deadbeat

See also: dead beat

English

Alternative forms

• dead beat, dead-beat

Etymology

dead +‎ beat (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈdɛdbiːt/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

deadbeat (plural deadbeats)

1. (derogatory) A lazy or irresponsible person who is often unemployed, often depending upon wealthy or otherwise financially independent people for support.
   • 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.

2. A person who defaults on debts.

Synonyms

• (lazy person): see Thesaurus:idler
• (person who defaults on debts): shirker, welcher

Translations

lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support

• Armenian: ծույլ մարդ (cuyl mard)
• Bulgarian: безделник (bg) m (bezdelnik)
• German: Faulpelz (de) m, Gammler (de) m, Schnorrer (de) m
• Hungarian: naplopó (hu), semmittevő (hu), léhűtő (hu), pumpoló, tarháló, adósságait nem fizető ember
• Russian: тунеядец (ru) (tunejadec), дармоед (ru) (darmojed)
• Spanish: incumplidor m, fracasado (es) m, holgazán (es) m

Adjective

deadbeat (not comparable)

1. (of an instrument) Having a damped needle that stops without oscillation.
2. Defaulting on one's debts.
3. Defeated or exhausted.
4. (derogatory) Lazy or irresponsible.
5. Dead tired.

Derived terms

• deadbeat dad

Translations

exhausted, dead tired

• Bulgarian: капнал от умора (kapnal ot umora)
• German: fix und fertig, völlig erschöpft
• Hungarian: holtfáradt (hu)