1
a
: of poor quality or nature
bum advice
b
: not valid or deserved
writing a bum check
c
: not pleasant or enjoyable
a bum trip
2
: affected or disabled by damage or injury
has a bum knee
bummed; bumming
1
: loaf
bummed around the house all day
2
: to spend time unemployed and often wandering
—often used with around
spent a couple of months bumming around Mexico
: to obtain by asking or begging : cadge
bum a cigarette
plural bums
1
informal + disapproving
: someone who lives off others and avoids work : sponge
He's a lazy bum.
2
: someone who performs a function poorly
The fans called the umpire a bum.
3
: someone whose time is devoted to a recreational activity
a beach bum
ski bums
4
informal + usually disparaging
: a person who has no established residence and wanders from place to place without lawful or visible means of support
bums sleeping on park benches
bummed; bumming; bums
US, informal
: disappoint, depress
—usually used with out
The news really bummed me out.
Examples of bum in a Sentence
Noun (1)
I decided to get off my bum and get some exercise
Adjective
that was bum advice that you got from that website
Verb (1)
spent most of the summer just bumming around the house
Noun (2)
if you expect an allowance, you have to do some chores and stop being such a bum
I feel sorry for bums and occasionally give them money
Recent Examples on the Web
Melody Kazel, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Three or four decades ago, the newspaperman was appealingly raffish—at once a bum who drank too much and a knight-errant who charged unafraid at social injustice, succored the weak, and crossed lances with the powerful and arrogant.
—David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025
Democrats’ most visible strategy appears to be trying to bum a few bucks from the grassroots—when the grassroots’ greatest power is in protest, boycott, and other unified mobilization efforts.
—Sarah Stankorb, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bum
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show current usage.
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Noun
And the oversized top has a split hem that falls below the bum.
—Melody Kazel, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
Three or four decades ago, the newspaperman was appealingly raffish—at once a bum who drank too much and a knight-errant who charged unafraid at social injustice, succored the weak, and crossed lances with the powerful and arrogant.
—David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was bummed out by Tech’s decision.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025
Democrats’ most visible strategy appears to be trying to bum a few bucks from the grassroots—when the grassroots’ greatest power is in protest, boycott, and other unified mobilization efforts.
—Sarah Stankorb, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bum
Cite this Entry
“Bum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bum. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bum
1 of 5 nounbum
2 of 5 adjective1
a
: inferior sense 3, worthless
bum advice
b
: not true or deserved
a bum rap
c
: not enjoyable
a bum trip
2
: unable to work properly : disabled
a bum knee
bum
3 of 5 verb
bummed; bumming
1
: to wander around avoiding work
2
: to obtain by asking or begging
bum a ride
bum
4 of 5 noun1
: a person who avoids work and tries to live off others
Etymology
Noun
Middle English bom
Adjective
perhaps from 4bum
Verb
probably from bummer "one who avoids work"
Noun
probably short for bummer "one who avoids work," probably from German Bummler "loafer"
Verb
probably from bummer
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