oncer
Definition
- Noun (informal, British):
- A person who attends church only on Sundays: "oncer" refers to an individual who goes to church exclusively on Sundays, implying they are not a regular or devout churchgoer.
- A one-time participant: More broadly, it can describe someone who does something only once or is a single-time participant in an activity.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- He is just an oncer, only showing up for the Christmas service. (He only attends church on Sundays, not regularly.)
- The club has many regulars, but also a few oncers who come just for special events. (People who participate only once or infrequently.)
Advanced Usage
- "Oncer" in religious context: Often used derogatorily or humorously to suggest someone is not deeply committed to their faith, as they only appear for weekly Sunday obligations.
- The vicar joked that the parish was full of oncers during Easter. (The church was filled with people who only attend on special Sundays.)
Variants and Related Words
One-off (adj/n): something done or happening only once.
- The event was a one-off, not to be repeated. (It was a single occurrence.)
Once (adv): one time only.
- She visited the museum once. (She went there a single time.)
Synonyms
- Sunday Christian: a person who attends church only on Sundays (often pejorative).
- Occasional attender: someone who participates infrequently.
- One-timer: a person who does something only once.
Related Idioms
Once in a blue moon: very rarely.
- He is an oncer, appearing once in a blue moon at church. (He comes very infrequently.)
One and done: completed in a single attempt.
- The project was a one and done for the oncer volunteer. (He only helped once.)