hanger-on

noun

hang·​er-on ˈhaŋ-ər-ˌȯn 

-ˌän

plural hangers-on

: one that hangs around a person, place, or institution especially for personal gain

Synonyms

• bloodsucker
• free rider
• freeloader
• leech
• moocher
• parasite
• sponge
• sponger

Examples of hanger-on in a Sentence

almost overnight, the singer was a star, and almost overnight, he was surrounded by hangers-on who wanted something

Recent Examples on the Web

The party guests—the artist-honorees and their partners, collectors, museum trustees, funders, and hangers-on—were clad in their finest evening attire, clinking champagne flutes and posing for pictures at a pre-dinner reception on The Shed’s fourth floor. —Helen Holmes, ARTnews.com, 19 Nov. 2024

Unlike other, sycophantic portions of right-wing media, Kirk isn’t simply a hanger-on to the conservative elite. —Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024

Meanwhile, Oz regroups at Eve’s place with Vic, the Maroni kid, and the feeble few hangers-on from the Falcone crew. —Andy Andersen, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2024

Bouncing back In short, the good economic news is real, whatever Trump and his hangers-on may say. —Paul Krugman, The Mercury News, 10 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

hanger-on

noun

hang·​er-on

ˈhaŋ-ə-ˌrȯn,

-ˌrän

plural hangers-on

: one that spends time around a person, place, or institution in hope of personal gain