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deadbeat
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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See also: dead beat
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From dead + beat. As an adjective, of a person, to be exhausted, first use appears c. the 1820s. During the American Civil War, it also became a derogatory adjective, in the sense of "a person that defaults on their debts or avoids responsibilities" and "sponger", "vagabond". This sense dates from c. 1863. Possibly related to good for nothing.
Pronunciation
Noun
deadbeat (plural deadbeats)
- (derogatory) A lazy or irresponsible person who is often unemployed, often depending upon wealthy or otherwise financially independent people for support.
- A person who defaults on debts.
- 2016 Eric Andrew-Gee Why and how Ontarians change their names in the 21st century The Globe and Mail
- With a few exceptions, all those changes were published in the Ontario Gazette, a little-read compendium of government business that comes out every week. The province requires this by law, as do most Canadian jurisdictions, nominally to thwart fraudsters and deadbeats.
- 2016 Eric Andrew-Gee Why and how Ontarians change their names in the 21st century The Globe and Mail
Synonyms
- (lazy person): see Thesaurus:idler
- (person who defaults on debts): shirker, welcher
Translations
lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support
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Adjective
deadbeat (not comparable)
- (of an instrument) Having a damped needle that stops without oscillation.
- Defaulting on one's debts.
- Defeated or exhausted.
- (derogatory) Lazy or irresponsible.
- Dead tired.
Derived terms
Translations
exhausted, dead tired
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