NYT Dictionary
BUMPKIN
/ˈbʌmpkɪn/NounBUMP-kinbump-kin · 2 syllablesGrade 5
Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2025
Meaning
A clumsy, unsophisticated person; a yokel.
Etymology
Origin: German
From Dutch boomken (“shrub, little tree”), equivalent to boom + -kin. Note that the English word boom is etymologically related to the aforementioned in the sense of "large stem", or "big tree". Compare German Baumke, Bäumchen.
Synonyms & Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle, including a pangram: