deadbeat

1 of 2

noun

dead·​beat ˈded-ˌbēt 

1

: loafer

2

: one who persistently fails to pay personal debts or expenses

deadbeat

2 of 2

adjective

: having a pointer that gives a reading with little or no oscillation

Synonyms of deadbeat

Noun

• slug
• drone
• snail
• bum
• layabout
• loafer

Examples of deadbeat in a Sentence

Noun

His friends are just a bunch of deadbeats.

He was accused of being a deadbeat.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The world’s biggest deadbeat has passed the begging bowl again. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025

Zoey’s deadbeat father, who left her as a baby to become a rock star, does not show up to do any sort of healing. — Rachel Handler, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025

Adjective

Funding for everything, then there’ll be no more deadbeat dads. — Alixel Cabrera, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 Oct. 2021

Adding to the complexity was his eagerness to avoid the archetype of a deadbeat Black father. — Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1863, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing deadbeat

• deadbeat dad

Rhymes for deadbeat

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• buckwheat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete

Kids Definition

deadbeat

noun

dead·​beat

ˈded-ˌbēt

: one who fails to pay his or her debts