# tinker

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈtɪŋkə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #20,249

## Definitions
1. An itinerant tinsmith and mender of household utensils made of metal.
2. A member of the Irish Traveller community or of other itinerant groups; a gypsy.
3. A mischievous person, especially a playful, impish youngster.
4. Someone who repairs, or attempts repair, on anything mechanical, or who invents such devices; one who tinkers; a tinkerer.
5. An act of repair or invention.
6. A hand mortar.
7. Any of various fish: chub mackerel, silverside, skate, or young mackerel about two years old.
8. A razor-billed auk, a bird of species (Alca torda).

## Etymology
From Middle English tynkere, perhaps from Old English *tincere, from tin (“tin”) + *cere, as in bēocere (“beekeeper”).

## Easily confused with
- **toner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tinker-vs-toner)
- **tuner** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tinker-vs-tuner)
- **tucker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tinker-vs-tucker)
- **tinted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tinker-vs-tinted)
- **tinned** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tinker-vs-tinned)
- **tinsel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tinker-vs-tinsel)
- **tipper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tinker-vs-tipper)
- **trinket** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tinker-vs-trinket)
- **tier** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tier-vs-tinker)
- **tink** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tink-vs-tinker)
- **tine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tine-vs-tinker)
- **tiger** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tiger-vs-tinker)
- **timer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/timer-vs-tinker)
- **taker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/taker-vs-tinker)
- **tinge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tinge-vs-tinker)
- **Tiber** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tiber-vs-tinker)
- **ticket** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ticket-vs-tinker)
- **tender** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tender-vs-tinker)
- **timber** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/timber-vs-tinker)
- **tinder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tinder-vs-tinker)

## Common misspellings (9)
`itnker`, `tikner`, `tinekr`, `tinkerr`, `tinkker`, `tinkre`, `tinnker`, `tniker`, `ttinker`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/tinker