Standard Lemma guide

humdinger

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /hʌmˈdɪŋ.ə(ɹ)/
  • US: /hʌmˈdɪŋ.ɚ/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɪŋə(ɹ)
  • CMU ARPABET: HH AH1 M D IH0 NG ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Something that is particularly outstanding, unusual, or exceptional.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

Examples

  • Most of the questions were pretty easy, but that last one was a humdinger.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

someone of remarkable excellence

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a humdinger of a secretary

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: ideal, paragon, nonpareil, saint, apotheosis, nonesuch, nonsuch

History

Etymology

US origin, perhaps a blend of hummer (“something that moves fast”) + dinger (“something outstanding”). First attested in a newspaper article in the Daily Enterprise of June 4, 1883, at Livingston, Montana.