galoot

noun

ga·​loot gə-ˈlüt How to pronounce galoot (audio)
Synonyms of galootnext
slang
: fellow
especially : one who is strange or foolish

Examples of galoot in a Sentence

he's a bighearted galoot, even if he's not the sharpest tool in the shed
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The pair come off less as cybercriminal masterminds than as galumphing galoots—that is to say, a pair of bumbling oafs who thought that asking AI how to cover their tracks was going to keep them out of federal prison. Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 14 May 2026 The galoot had long been on her life list, but the field markings on this particular specimen left her stunned. Garry Trudeau, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2026 But the energetic, foul-mouthed galoot seems mainly focused on drilling through ice for a swim as often as possible. Will Tizard, Variety, 3 Nov. 2024 Our heroes — on a simple quest to find one hulking, hairy galoot — have to traverse a dark, dangerous, and honestly pretty fake-looking forest, filled with enormous insects and other strange surprises. Noel Murray, Vulture, 19 June 2024 Henri was a tall galoot with a hawk nose, very little chin, and a prominent Adam’s apple. Lucy Sante, The New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2023 Nobody plays a big galoot better than Marino and Ron can be profoundly annoying and ridiculous, the worst of the try-hards. Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 22 Feb. 2023 Winston Duke, my favorite big galoot, gets to have a little fun as the garrulous tribal leader M’Baku, but the new character Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne), who is intended for a Disney+ TV spin-off, feels a bit lost in the shuffle. David Sims, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2022 Stefan, if something of a sad sack, is also a charming big galoot who sincerely believes in love. Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022

Word History

Etymology

of obscure origin

First Known Use

circa 1818, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of galoot was circa 1818

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Galoot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/galoot. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

galoot

noun
ga·​loot gə-ˈlüt How to pronounce galoot (audio)
slang
: fellow sense 4a
especially : a person who is odd or foolish
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster