Meaning & use
gaffer
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountabletechnical
The head electrician on a film or television set, in charge of lighting.
Grammar: Countable: the gaffer arrived early.
The gaffer adjusted the lights before the scene.
She worked as a gaffer on three feature films.
The director asked the gaffer for a softer glow.
nouncountableBritishinformal
A boss or manager, especially of a work team or a football club.
Grammar: Often used as a form of address or reference: the gaffer said.
The gaffer told us to finish early today.
The fans backed the gaffer after the win.
nouncountableold-fashionedBritishinformal
An old man, especially a rural one.
Grammar: Countable: an old gaffer.
The old gaffer on the corner told us stories.
Word forms
| plural | gaffers |
|---|
Common combinations
- film gaffer
- A film gaffer plans the lighting rig.
- the gaffer says
- The gaffer says training starts at nine.
- best boy and gaffer
- The gaffer and best boy set up the cables.
- ask the gaffer
- Ask the gaffer if we can leave.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- gaff noun
- a hook, or in slang British a house
Commonly confused: gaffer or gaffe?
gaffer vs gaffe
A gaffe is an embarrassing mistake, but a gaffer is a boss or lighting technician.
Practice
On a film set, who is the gaffer?
Choose one answer.
On a film set the gaffer is the chief electrician in charge of lighting. The other jobs are separate departments.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gaffer”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.