Dodger

Dodger is a term with multiple, related meanings in English. In general usage, a dodger is someone or something that dodges or avoids something that is expected or required. The word can describe a person who evades responsibilities, rules, or payments, such as a tax dodger, and it can be applied to activities that involve avoidance or evasion.

In sports, Dodger most commonly refers to a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, a Major League Baseball team. The team traces its origins to the Brooklyn Dodgers, founded in the 19th century. The nickname arose in the Brooklyn era, with the term “trolley dodgers” describing residents who had to navigate the city’s streetcars. The franchise relocated to Los Angeles in 1958 and retained the Dodgers name. Players, coaches, and other personnel associated with the franchise are often described as Dodgers, though the singular Dodger is also used in casual speech.

In popular culture, Dodger is the name of a fictional character in Disney’s 1988 animated film Oliver & Company. Dodger, a streetwise stray dog, is voiced by Billy Joel and serves as the story’s charismatic lead. The name has been used for other fictional and real-world figures as well, reflecting its association with cleverness and mobility.

See also places and terms that share the root, such as dodging, evasion, and the broader use of the term in sports team names. Overall, the word Dodger conveys a sense of avoidance or nimbleness, whether describing a person, a sports team member, or a character in fiction.