cheater

noun

cheat·​er ˈchē-tər 

plural cheaters

1

: one who cheats: such as

a

: one who violates rules dishonestly

a cheater at cards

tax cheaters

That presumably includes pitchers who suspect they've given up home runs to players who cheat and batters who suspect they're being outhit by cheaters.

—Chris Jenkins

… if the tests use the same questions day after day for months, they are much more vulnerable to cheaters who can memorize the questions.

—Douglas Frantz

b

: one who is sexually unfaithful

Her boyfriend turned out to be a cheater and a liar.

Although Bartolomeo, 36, has written another tale of infidelity, the unfaithful here is our narrator, Diana Campanella. A woman. All the cheaters in this book are women—and none of the men are evil.

—Valerie Franke

2

cheaters plural, US slang : eyeglasses, spectacles

"Joe and I blow in there to see if there's anything for us, and there's a tall guy in tortoiseshell cheaters sitting in Ike's office."

—P. G. Wodehouse

especially, in current use : eyeglasses used for reading or close work

I needed my cheaters to read the menu.

Despite considerable research efforts into this condition [presbyopia], becoming increasingly prevalent as the population enjoys greater longevity, no simple treatment beyond bifocals or reading glasses ("cheaters") exists.

—Terrence P. O'Brien

Synonyms

• cheat
• dodger

Examples of cheater in a Sentence

gambling casinos have very elaborate means of detecting cheaters

Recent Examples on the Web

Here's a breakdown: White: 87% Black: 77% Asian: 77% Hispanic: 77% Not Hispanic: 85% Can the IRS still catch cheaters amongst layoffs? —Marley Malenfant, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

After a short, awkward visit, the cheater pleaded his case to my hubby. —R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 19 June 2025

Some on the left argue that there are only a few trans athletes that compete against genuine females on all levels of sports, but isn’t even one cheater too many? —Letters To The Editor, Oc Register, 29 May 2025

Other Mumsnet users tried to describe the mindset of a cheater. —Brian Anthony Hernandez, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cheater

• beater
• dieter
• eater
• heater
• liter
• litre
• meter
• metre
• neater
• praetor
• seater
• skeeter