dunker

Dunker is a term with several related but distinct meanings in English. In contemporary slang, a dunker is a person who performs a slam dunk in basketball; the word is informal and is often used to describe players who frequently dunk during games.

Dunkers, also known as Dunkards, refer to members of certain German-speaking Anabaptist groups, most notably the German Baptist Brethren. The name stems from their practice of baptism by immersion, or dunking, which outsiders described as dunking. Inside the movement, adherents may use Dunkers or Dunkards as well as specific group names. The Dunkers originated in 17th- to 18th-century German-speaking regions and later established communities in North America, with significant presence in Pennsylvania and other parts of the Midwest. Core convictions include adult baptism by full immersion, pacifism, plain dress, and congregational governance. Their practice of simple living and distinctive worship and etiquette helped maintain religious identity, while many Dunker communities gradually integrated with other Anabaptist groups or with the Church of the Brethren.

In addition to these uses, Dunker can also be a surname of German origin, encountered in various countries. The term’s meaning is therefore context-dependent, spanning sports slang, a historical religious group, and a family name.