Slangora

sandgroper

Any species of the family of subterranean insects, found in Australia, New Guinea and Argentina.

ˈsændɡɹəpɚhistorical176 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇦🇺 Australian & NZ slang
2 definitions
Community

Definitions

Australia
#1·Apr 27, 2026AUS

Any species of the family of subterranean insects, found in Australia, New Guinea and Argentina.

Leonard not only accepted, he told the club he could help sign several West Australians. The Foreign Legion policy was born and, through Leonard′s personal contacts, South [Melbourne] signed Sandgropers Brighton Diggins and Bill Faul (bo…
Was this helpful?

Comments

Australia
#2·Apr 27, 2026AUS

(Australia, jocular) An inhabitant of Western Australia.

On both occasions the sandgropers downed the ‘big V’, as indeed they did in 1947 at Hobart when finishing second; the VFL′s only other defeat in 68 pre-state of origin carnival games came in 1911 against South Australia in Adelaide.
Origin: From . The sense “Western Australian” may originate either as a reference to the relatively large proportion of desert in the state or to gold mining during the rushes of the 19th Century. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
For parents

"sandgroper" means: An inhabitant of Western Australia.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"sandgroper" means: An inhabitant of Western Australia.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

Was this helpful?

Comments

Used in

Australia

Have a better definition?

Add your own interpretation of "sandgroper".

Add definition

🇦🇺About Australian & NZ slang slang

Aussie and Kiwi vocabulary — bogan, daggy, brekkie, sheila, bach, jandals — the whole Antipodean lexicon, including outback dialect, surf and beach culture, and Sydney/Melbourne street slang.

See all Australian & NZ slang slang on Slangora.

Tags

Other words near "sandgroper" (S)

Browse all slang words starting with S.

Related terms

People also read

Semantically related