"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 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)
    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 Armenian translations, Terms with Bulgarian translations, Terms with Czech 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 Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 4 16 2 1 57 4 16 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 3 9 2 1 76 2 8 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 2 18 2 1 62 1 15 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 2 17 1 1 63 1 14 Disambiguation of Terms with Armenian translations: 3 7 3 4 41 17 25 Disambiguation of Terms with Bulgarian translations: 6 10 5 4 58 6 11 Disambiguation of Terms with Czech translations: 3 7 3 4 41 16 25 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 4 9 4 3 66 4 10 Disambiguation of Terms with Hungarian translations: 7 7 3 4 39 16 24 Disambiguation of Terms with Macedonian translations: 3 7 3 4 41 16 25 Disambiguation of Terms with Polish translations: 6 11 6 3 57 5 12 Disambiguation of Terms with Portuguese translations: 3 7 3 4 41 16 25 Disambiguation of Terms with Russian translations: 4 12 3 1 66 2 11 Disambiguation of Terms with Spanish translations: 3 13 4 1 66 2 11 Disambiguation of 'exhausted, dead tired': 0 1 18 0 80
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 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), 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), fracasado [masculine] (Spanish), holgazán [masculine] (Spanish)
    Sense id: en-deadbeat-en-noun-Mok4zzrC Categories (other): People Disambiguation of People: 0 0 0 0 0 67 33 Disambiguation of 'lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support': 64 36
  2. A person who defaults on debts. Synonyms (person who defaults on debts): shirker, welcher
    Sense id: en-deadbeat-en-noun-JTaokGV3 Disambiguation of 'person who defaults on debts': 18 82
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Synonyms (lazy person): idler
Disambiguation of 'lazy person': 46 54

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

{
  "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": [
        {
          "_dis": "0 0 0 0 0 67 33",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "People",
          "orig": "en:People",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "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"
        ],
        [
          "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"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "hy",
          "lang": "Armenian",
          "lang_code": "hy",
          "roman": "cuyl mard",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "word": "ծույլ մարդ"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "lang_code": "bg",
          "roman": "bezdelnik",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "безделник"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "lang_code": "cs",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "povaleč"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "lang_code": "cs",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "flákač"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "lang_code": "de",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "Faulpelz"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "lang_code": "de",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "Gammler"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "lang_code": "de",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "Schnorrer"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "lang_code": "hu",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "word": "naplopó"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "lang_code": "hu",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "word": "semmittevő"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "lang_code": "hu",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "word": "léhűtő"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "lang_code": "hu",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "word": "pumpoló"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "lang_code": "hu",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "word": "tarháló"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "lang_code": "hu",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "word": "adósságait nem fizető ember"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "mk",
          "lang": "Macedonian",
          "lang_code": "mk",
          "roman": "paraspur",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "параспур"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "lang_code": "pl",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "pasożyt"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "lang_code": "pt",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "vagabundo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "lang_code": "pt",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "parasita"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "lang_code": "pt",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "aproveitador"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "lang_code": "ru",
          "roman": "tunejadec",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "word": "тунеядец"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "lang_code": "ru",
          "roman": "darmojed",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "word": "дармоед"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "lang_code": "es",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "incumplidor"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "lang_code": "es",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "fracasado"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "64 36",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "lang_code": "es",
          "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "holgazán"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "2016 Eric Andrew-Gee Why and how Ontarians change their names in the 21st century The Globe and Mail\nWith 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."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A person who defaults on debts."
      ],
      "id": "en-deadbeat-en-noun-JTaokGV3",
      "links": [
        [
          "default",
          "default"
        ],
        [
          "debt",
          "debt"
        ]
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "18 82",
          "sense": "person who defaults on debts",
          "word": "shirker"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "18 82",
          "sense": "person who defaults on debts",
          "word": "welcher"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "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",
      "ogg_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.ogg"
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "_dis1": "46 54",
      "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": "4 16 2 1 57 4 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "3 9 2 1 76 2 8",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "2 18 2 1 62 1 15",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "2 17 1 1 63 1 14",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "3 7 3 4 41 17 25",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Armenian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "6 10 5 4 58 6 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "3 7 3 4 41 16 25",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Czech translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 9 4 3 66 4 10",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with German translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "7 7 3 4 39 16 24",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Hungarian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "3 7 3 4 41 16 25",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Macedonian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "6 11 6 3 57 5 12",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Polish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "3 7 3 4 41 16 25",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Portuguese translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "4 12 3 1 66 2 11",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Russian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "3 13 4 1 66 2 11",
          "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 1 18 0 80",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "lang_code": "bg",
          "roman": "kapnal ot umora",
          "sense": "exhausted, dead tired",
          "word": "капнал от умора"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 1 18 0 80",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "lang_code": "de",
          "sense": "exhausted, dead tired",
          "word": "fix und fertig"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 1 18 0 80",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "lang_code": "de",
          "sense": "exhausted, dead tired",
          "word": "völlig erschöpft"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 1 18 0 80",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "lang_code": "hu",
          "sense": "exhausted, dead tired",
          "word": "holtfáradt"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "0 1 18 0 80",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "lang_code": "pl",
          "sense": "exhausted, dead tired",
          "word": "wykończony"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "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",
      "ogg_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.ogg"
    }
  ],
  "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 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"
      ]
    },
    {
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "2016 Eric Andrew-Gee Why and how Ontarians change their names in the 21st century The Globe and Mail\nWith 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."
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A person who defaults on debts."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "default",
          "default"
        ],
        [
          "debt",
          "debt"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "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",
      "ogg_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.ogg"
    }
  ],
  "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": "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": "fracasado"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "lang_code": "es",
      "sense": "lazy person, depending upon financially independent people for support",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "holgazán"
    }
  ],
  "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 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"
  ],
  "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",
      "ogg_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.ogg"
    }
  ],
  "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"
    }
  ],
  "word": "deadbeat"
}

Download raw JSONL data for deadbeat meaning in English (10.7kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2025-12-23 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2025-12-02 using wiktextract (6fdc867 and 9905b1f). 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.