"deadbeat" meaning in English

See deadbeat in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adjective

IPA: /ˈdɛdbiːt/ [UK] Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-deadbeat.wav [US] Forms: dead beat [alternative], dead-beat [alternative]
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. Etymology templates: {{com|en|dead|beat}} dead + beat Head templates: {{en-adj|-}} deadbeat (not comparable)
  1. (of an instrument) Having a damped needle that stops without oscillation. Tags: not-comparable
    Sense id: en-deadbeat-en-adj-3ghC~UAJ
  2. Defaulting on one's debts. Tags: not-comparable
    Sense id: en-deadbeat-en-adj-uog3GQEM
  3. Defeated or exhausted. Tags: not-comparable
    Sense id: en-deadbeat-en-adj-XmUj3lLJ
  4. (derogatory) Lazy or irresponsible. Tags: derogatory, not-comparable
    Sense id: en-deadbeat-en-adj-ygu9K1UA
  5. Dead tired. Tags: not-comparable Translations (exhausted, dead tired): капнал от умора (kapnal ot umora) (Bulgarian), fix und fertig (German), völlig erschöpft (German), holtfáradt (Hungarian), wykończony (Polish), faltón (Spanish), incumplidor (Spanish)
    Sense id: en-deadbeat-en-adj-L0qcGUYY Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Terms with Bulgarian translations, Terms with Hungarian translations, Terms with Polish translations, Terms with Spanish translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 3 13 2 1 43 3 13 23 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 2 7 3 1 58 1 6 23 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 2 14 2 0 49 1 12 19 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 1 14 2 1 51 1 12 19 Disambiguation of Terms with Bulgarian translations: 4 8 5 3 45 5 9 20 Disambiguation of Terms with Hungarian translations: 6 5 3 3 28 12 18 24 Disambiguation of Terms with Polish translations: 5 9 6 3 41 4 9 25 Disambiguation of Terms with Spanish translations: 3 10 4 1 50 2 9 22 Disambiguation of 'exhausted, dead tired': 0 2 20 0 78
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Derived forms: deadbeat dad, deadbeat mom

Noun

IPA: /ˈdɛdbiːt/ [UK] Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-deadbeat.wav [US] Forms: deadbeats [plural], dead beat [alternative], dead-beat [alternative]
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. Etymology templates: {{com|en|dead|beat}} dead + beat Head templates: {{en-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. Tags: derogatory Translations (lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support): ծույլ մարդ (cuyl mard) (Armenian), безделник (bezdelnik) [masculine] (Bulgarian), povaleč [masculine] (Czech), flákač [masculine] (Czech), leegloper [masculine] (Dutch), Faulpelz [masculine] (German), Gammler [masculine] (German), Schnorrer [masculine] (German), naplopó (Hungarian), semmittevő (Hungarian), léhűtő (Hungarian), pumpoló (Hungarian), tarháló (Hungarian), adósságait nem fizető ember (Hungarian), параспур (paraspur) [masculine] (Macedonian), pasożyt [masculine] (Polish), vagabundo [masculine] (Portuguese), parasita [masculine] (Portuguese), aproveitador [masculine] (Portuguese), тунеядец (tunejadec) (Russian), дармоед (darmojed) (Russian), incumplidor [masculine] (Spanish), faltón [masculine] (Spanish)
    Sense id: en-deadbeat-en-noun-Mok4zzrC Categories (other): Terms with Armenian translations, Terms with Czech translations, Terms with Hungarian translations, Terms with Macedonian translations, Terms with Portuguese translations, People Disambiguation of Terms with Armenian translations: 28 39 33 Disambiguation of Terms with Czech translations: 28 39 33 Disambiguation of Terms with Hungarian translations: 6 5 3 3 28 12 18 24 Disambiguation of Terms with Macedonian translations: 27 40 33 Disambiguation of Terms with Portuguese translations: 27 40 34 Disambiguation of People: 0 0 0 0 0 54 26 21 Disambiguation of 'lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support': 60 33 7
  2. A person who defaults on debts. Synonyms (person who defaults on debts): shirker, welcher
    Sense id: en-deadbeat-en-noun-JTaokGV3 Categories (other): Terms with Armenian translations, Terms with Czech translations, Terms with Hungarian translations, Terms with Macedonian translations, Terms with Portuguese translations Disambiguation of Terms with Armenian translations: 28 39 33 Disambiguation of Terms with Czech translations: 28 39 33 Disambiguation of Terms with Hungarian translations: 6 5 3 3 28 12 18 24 Disambiguation of Terms with Macedonian translations: 27 40 33 Disambiguation of Terms with Portuguese translations: 27 40 34 Disambiguation of 'person who defaults on debts': 16 75 9
  3. (banking, slang, ironic) A customer who pays their credit card or loan balance in full and on time each month, thereby incurring no interest charges. (Compare revolver, who carries a balance and pays interest.) Tags: ironic, slang
    Sense id: en-deadbeat-en-noun-HCsTx12U Categories (other): Banking, Terms with Armenian translations, Terms with Czech translations, Terms with Dutch translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Hungarian translations, Terms with Macedonian translations, Terms with Portuguese translations, Terms with Russian translations Disambiguation of Terms with Armenian translations: 28 39 33 Disambiguation of Terms with Czech translations: 28 39 33 Disambiguation of Terms with Dutch translations: 11 30 59 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 11 24 66 Disambiguation of Terms with Hungarian translations: 6 5 3 3 28 12 18 24 Disambiguation of Terms with Macedonian translations: 27 40 33 Disambiguation of Terms with Portuguese translations: 27 40 34 Disambiguation of Terms with Russian translations: 9 29 63 Topics: banking, business
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Synonyms (lazy person): idler
Disambiguation of 'lazy person': 43 50 6

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

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  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "dead",
        "3": "beat"
      },
      "expansion": "dead + beat",
      "name": "com"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "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.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "deadbeats",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "dead beat",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "dead-beat",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
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  "head_templates": [
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      "args": {},
      "expansion": "deadbeat (plural deadbeats)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
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  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "28 39 33",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Armenian translations",
          "parents": [],
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          "_dis": "0 0 0 0 0 54 26 21",
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      "glosses": [
        "A lazy or irresponsible person who is often unemployed, often depending upon wealthy or otherwise financially independent people for support."
      ],
      "id": "en-deadbeat-en-noun-Mok4zzrC",
      "links": [
        [
          "derogatory",
          "derogatory"
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        [
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        ],
        [
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          "irresponsible"
        ],
        [
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          "unemployed"
        ],
        [
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          "wealthy"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(derogatory) A lazy or irresponsible person who is often unemployed, often depending upon wealthy or otherwise financially independent people for support."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "derogatory"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "hy",
          "lang": "Armenian",
          "lang_code": "hy",
          "roman": "cuyl mard",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "word": "ծույլ մարդ"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "lang_code": "bg",
          "roman": "bezdelnik",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "безделник"
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          "lang_code": "cs",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "povaleč"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "lang_code": "cs",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
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          "word": "flákač"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "lang_code": "nl",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "leegloper"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "lang_code": "de",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "Faulpelz"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "lang_code": "de",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "Gammler"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "lang_code": "de",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "Schnorrer"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "lang_code": "hu",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "word": "naplopó"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "lang_code": "hu",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "word": "semmittevő"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "lang_code": "hu",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "word": "léhűtő"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "lang_code": "hu",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "word": "pumpoló"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "lang_code": "hu",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "word": "tarháló"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "lang_code": "hu",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "word": "adósságait nem fizető ember"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "mk",
          "lang": "Macedonian",
          "lang_code": "mk",
          "roman": "paraspur",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "параспур"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "lang_code": "pl",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "pasożyt"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "lang_code": "pt",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "vagabundo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "lang_code": "pt",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "parasita"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "lang_code": "pt",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "aproveitador"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "lang_code": "ru",
          "roman": "tunejadec",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "word": "тунеядец"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "lang_code": "ru",
          "roman": "darmojed",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "word": "дармоед"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "lang_code": "es",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "incumplidor"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "60 33 7",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "lang_code": "es",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "faltón"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
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          "_dis": "28 39 33",
          "kind": "other",
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        {
          "_dis": "28 39 33",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Czech translations",
          "parents": [],
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        {
          "_dis": "6 5 3 3 28 12 18 24",
          "kind": "other",
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        {
          "_dis": "27 40 34",
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      "examples": [
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          "bold_text_offsets": [
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              260,
              269
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2016 September 9, Eric Andrew-Gee, “Why and how Ontarians change their names in the 21st century”, in The Globe and Mail, archived from the original on 03 Oct 2016:",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A person who defaults on debts."
      ],
      "id": "en-deadbeat-en-noun-JTaokGV3",
      "links": [
        [
          "default",
          "default"
        ],
        [
          "debt",
          "debt"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "16 75 9",
          "sense": "person who defaults on debts",
          "word": "shirker"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "16 75 9",
          "sense": "person who defaults on debts",
          "word": "welcher"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Banking",
          "orig": "en:Banking",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 39 33",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Armenian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 39 33",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Czech translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "11 30 59",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Dutch translations",
          "parents": [],
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        },
        {
          "_dis": "11 24 66",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with German translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
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          "kind": "other",
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          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "27 40 34",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Portuguese translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "9 29 63",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Russian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
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              0,
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            [
              335,
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            ],
            [
              335,
              344
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2026 May 17, “\"Deadbeat\" Credit Card Users: Definition and Benefits”, in Investopedia, archived from the original on 14 Jun 2026:",
          "text": "Deadbeat is slang for a credit card user who pays their balance in full and on time each month. […] A deadbeat is also called a \"nonrevolver\" or a \"transactor.\" […] However, so-called deadbeats in the credit world also do not rack up bills they never pay, so they do not generate significant losses for credit card companies like real deadbeats, who do not pay their bills.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A customer who pays their credit card or loan balance in full and on time each month, thereby incurring no interest charges. (Compare revolver, who carries a balance and pays interest.)"
      ],
      "id": "en-deadbeat-en-noun-HCsTx12U",
      "links": [
        [
          "banking",
          "banking#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "ironic",
          "irony"
        ],
        [
          "revolver",
          "revolver"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(banking, slang, ironic) A customer who pays their credit card or loan balance in full and on time each month, thereby incurring no interest charges. (Compare revolver, who carries a balance and pays interest.)"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "ironic",
        "slang"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "banking",
        "business"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈdɛdbiːt/",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-deadbeat.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/5/56/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Flame%2C_not_lame-deadbeat.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Flame%2C_not_lame-deadbeat.wav.mp3",
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      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "_dis1": "43 50 6",
      "sense": "lazy person",
      "word": "idler"
    }
  ],
  "word": "deadbeat"
}

{
  "derived": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "deadbeat dad"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0 0",
      "word": "deadbeat mom"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "dead",
        "3": "beat"
      },
      "expansion": "dead + beat",
      "name": "com"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "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.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "dead beat",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "dead-beat",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "deadbeat (not comparable)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Having a damped needle that stops without oscillation."
      ],
      "id": "en-deadbeat-en-adj-3ghC~UAJ",
      "links": [
        [
          "damped",
          "damped"
        ],
        [
          "needle",
          "needle"
        ],
        [
          "stop",
          "stop"
        ],
        [
          "oscillation",
          "oscillation"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(of an instrument) Having a damped needle that stops without oscillation."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "of an instrument"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Defaulting on one's debts."
      ],
      "id": "en-deadbeat-en-adj-uog3GQEM",
      "links": [
        [
          "Defaulting",
          "defaulting"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Defeated or exhausted."
      ],
      "id": "en-deadbeat-en-adj-XmUj3lLJ",
      "links": [
        [
          "Defeated",
          "defeated"
        ],
        [
          "exhausted",
          "exhausted"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "glosses": [
        "Lazy or irresponsible."
      ],
      "id": "en-deadbeat-en-adj-ygu9K1UA",
      "links": [
        [
          "derogatory",
          "derogatory"
        ],
        [
          "Lazy",
          "lazy"
        ],
        [
          "irresponsible",
          "irresponsible"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(derogatory) Lazy or irresponsible."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "derogatory",
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "3 13 2 1 43 3 13 23",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "2 7 3 1 58 1 6 23",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "2 14 2 0 49 1 12 19",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "1 14 2 1 51 1 12 19",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 8 5 3 45 5 9 20",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "6 5 3 3 28 12 18 24",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Hungarian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 9 6 3 41 4 9 25",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Polish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "3 10 4 1 50 2 9 22",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Spanish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Dead tired."
      ],
      "id": "en-deadbeat-en-adj-L0qcGUYY",
      "links": [
        [
          "Dead tired",
          "dead tired"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "0 2 20 0 78",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "lang_code": "bg",
          "roman": "kapnal ot umora",
          "sense": "exhausted, dead tired",
          "word": "капнал от умора"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 2 20 0 78",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "lang_code": "de",
          "sense": "exhausted, dead tired",
          "word": "fix und fertig"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 2 20 0 78",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "lang_code": "de",
          "sense": "exhausted, dead tired",
          "word": "völlig erschöpft"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 2 20 0 78",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "lang_code": "hu",
          "sense": "exhausted, dead tired",
          "word": "holtfáradt"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 2 20 0 78",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "lang_code": "pl",
          "sense": "exhausted, dead tired",
          "word": "wykończony"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 2 20 0 78",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "lang_code": "es",
          "sense": "exhausted, dead tired",
          "word": "faltón"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 2 20 0 78",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "lang_code": "es",
          "sense": "exhausted, dead tired",
          "word": "incumplidor"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈdɛdbiːt/",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-deadbeat.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/5/56/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Flame%2C_not_lame-deadbeat.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Flame%2C_not_lame-deadbeat.wav.mp3",
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      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "deadbeat"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English adjectives",
    "English compound terms",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English uncomparable adjectives",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Terms with Armenian translations",
    "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
    "Terms with Czech translations",
    "Terms with Dutch translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Hungarian translations",
    "Terms with Macedonian translations",
    "Terms with Polish translations",
    "Terms with Portuguese translations",
    "Terms with Russian translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations",
    "en:People"
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "dead",
        "3": "beat"
      },
      "expansion": "dead + beat",
      "name": "com"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "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.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "deadbeats",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "dead beat",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "dead-beat",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "deadbeat (plural deadbeats)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English derogatory terms"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A lazy or irresponsible person who is often unemployed, often depending upon wealthy or otherwise financially independent people for support."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "derogatory",
          "derogatory"
        ],
        [
          "lazy",
          "lazy"
        ],
        [
          "irresponsible",
          "irresponsible"
        ],
        [
          "unemployed",
          "unemployed"
        ],
        [
          "wealthy",
          "wealthy"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(derogatory) A lazy or irresponsible person who is often unemployed, often depending upon wealthy or otherwise financially independent people for support."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "derogatory"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              260,
              269
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2016 September 9, Eric Andrew-Gee, “Why and how Ontarians change their names in the 21st century”, in The Globe and Mail, archived from the original on 03 Oct 2016:",
          "text": "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.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A person who defaults on debts."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "default",
          "default"
        ],
        [
          "debt",
          "debt"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English slang",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "en:Banking"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              0,
              8
            ],
            [
              102,
              110
            ],
            [
              184,
              192
            ],
            [
              184,
              193
            ],
            [
              335,
              343
            ],
            [
              335,
              344
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2026 May 17, “\"Deadbeat\" Credit Card Users: Definition and Benefits”, in Investopedia, archived from the original on 14 Jun 2026:",
          "text": "Deadbeat is slang for a credit card user who pays their balance in full and on time each month. […] A deadbeat is also called a \"nonrevolver\" or a \"transactor.\" […] However, so-called deadbeats in the credit world also do not rack up bills they never pay, so they do not generate significant losses for credit card companies like real deadbeats, who do not pay their bills.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A customer who pays their credit card or loan balance in full and on time each month, thereby incurring no interest charges. (Compare revolver, who carries a balance and pays interest.)"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "banking",
          "banking#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "ironic",
          "irony"
        ],
        [
          "revolver",
          "revolver"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(banking, slang, ironic) A customer who pays their credit card or loan balance in full and on time each month, thereby incurring no interest charges. (Compare revolver, who carries a balance and pays interest.)"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "ironic",
        "slang"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "banking",
        "business"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈdɛdbiːt/",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-deadbeat.wav",
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      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "sense": "lazy person",
      "word": "idler"
    },
    {
      "sense": "person who defaults on debts",
      "word": "shirker"
    },
    {
      "sense": "person who defaults on debts",
      "word": "welcher"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "hy",
      "lang": "Armenian",
      "lang_code": "hy",
      "roman": "cuyl mard",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "word": "ծույլ մարդ"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "lang_code": "bg",
      "roman": "bezdelnik",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "безделник"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "lang_code": "cs",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "povaleč"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "lang_code": "cs",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "flákač"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "lang_code": "nl",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "leegloper"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "lang_code": "de",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "Faulpelz"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "lang_code": "de",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "Gammler"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "lang_code": "de",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "Schnorrer"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "lang_code": "hu",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "word": "naplopó"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "lang_code": "hu",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "word": "semmittevő"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "lang_code": "hu",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "word": "léhűtő"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "lang_code": "hu",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "word": "pumpoló"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "lang_code": "hu",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "word": "tarháló"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "lang_code": "hu",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "word": "adósságait nem fizető ember"
    },
    {
      "code": "mk",
      "lang": "Macedonian",
      "lang_code": "mk",
      "roman": "paraspur",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "параспур"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "lang_code": "pl",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "pasożyt"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "lang_code": "pt",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "vagabundo"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "lang_code": "pt",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "parasita"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "lang_code": "pt",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "aproveitador"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "lang_code": "ru",
      "roman": "tunejadec",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "word": "тунеядец"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "lang_code": "ru",
      "roman": "darmojed",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "word": "дармоед"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "lang_code": "es",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "incumplidor"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "lang_code": "es",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "faltón"
    }
  ],
  "word": "deadbeat"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English adjectives",
    "English compound terms",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English uncomparable adjectives",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
    "Terms with Hungarian translations",
    "Terms with Polish translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations",
    "en:People"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "deadbeat dad"
    },
    {
      "word": "deadbeat mom"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "dead",
        "3": "beat"
      },
      "expansion": "dead + beat",
      "name": "com"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "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.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "dead beat",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "dead-beat",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "deadbeat (not comparable)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Having a damped needle that stops without oscillation."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "damped",
          "damped"
        ],
        [
          "needle",
          "needle"
        ],
        [
          "stop",
          "stop"
        ],
        [
          "oscillation",
          "oscillation"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(of an instrument) Having a damped needle that stops without oscillation."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "of an instrument"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Defaulting on one's debts."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Defaulting",
          "defaulting"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Defeated or exhausted."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Defeated",
          "defeated"
        ],
        [
          "exhausted",
          "exhausted"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English derogatory terms"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Lazy or irresponsible."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "derogatory",
          "derogatory"
        ],
        [
          "Lazy",
          "lazy"
        ],
        [
          "irresponsible",
          "irresponsible"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(derogatory) Lazy or irresponsible."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "derogatory",
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Dead tired."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Dead tired",
          "dead tired"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈdɛdbiːt/",
      "tags": [
        "UK"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-deadbeat.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/5/56/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Flame%2C_not_lame-deadbeat.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Flame%2C_not_lame-deadbeat.wav.mp3",
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      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "lang_code": "bg",
      "roman": "kapnal ot umora",
      "sense": "exhausted, dead tired",
      "word": "капнал от умора"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "lang_code": "de",
      "sense": "exhausted, dead tired",
      "word": "fix und fertig"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "lang_code": "de",
      "sense": "exhausted, dead tired",
      "word": "völlig erschöpft"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "lang_code": "hu",
      "sense": "exhausted, dead tired",
      "word": "holtfáradt"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "lang_code": "pl",
      "sense": "exhausted, dead tired",
      "word": "wykończony"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "lang_code": "es",
      "sense": "exhausted, dead tired",
      "word": "faltón"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "lang_code": "es",
      "sense": "exhausted, dead tired",
      "word": "incumplidor"
    }
  ],
  "word": "deadbeat"
}

Download raw JSONL data for deadbeat meaning in English (12.2kB)

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  "trace": ""
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-07-09 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-07-06 using wiktextract (e62056b and e7887d5). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.