Definition

Noun: 1. A person who pursues and captures fugitives or outlaws for a monetary reward (bounty) offered by a government or other authority. This is the most common modern usage. 2. A person who hunts and kills predatory or nuisance animals to collect a government-issued bounty. This is a historical and less common usage.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Modern):
  • The bounty hunter tracked the fugitive across three states before making the arrest.
  • Bail bondsmen often hire bounty hunters to find clients who skip court.
• Noun (Historical):
  • In the 19th century, a bounty hunter might be paid for each wolf pelt he brought to the town sheriff.

Advanced Usage

• "To work as a bounty hunter": To have the occupation of capturing fugitives for reward.
  • After leaving the police force, he decided to work as a bounty hunter.
• Conceptual Use: The term can be used metaphorically to describe anyone aggressively seeking a reward or target.
  • The reporter was like a bounty hunter, relentlessly pursuing the story for the prize of a front-page headline.

Variants and Related Words

• Bounty Hunting (n): The practice or profession of being a bounty hunter.
  • Bounty hunting is a dangerous but potentially lucrative profession.
• Fugitive Recovery Agent (n): A more formal, modern term often used interchangeably with "bounty hunter," especially in legal contexts.

Synonyms

• Fugitive Recovery Agent (formal synonym)
• Bail Enforcement Agent (specific to those retrieving bail jumpers)
• Manhunter (archaic/literary)

Related Phrases

• To skip bail / jump bail: To fail to appear in court after being released on bail, which typically triggers the involvement of a bounty hunter hired by the bail bondsman.
  • The defendant skipped bail, so the bondsman sent a bounty hunter after him.
• To post a bounty / put a price on someone's head: To offer a reward for someone's capture.
  • The government posted a bounty for the rebel leader's capture.

Noun

1. a hunter who kills predatory wild animals in order to collect a bounty
2. someone who pursues fugitives or criminals for whom a reward is offered