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

In the fight for the right to be yourself, there are a lot of barriers to being accepted as a female deadbeat. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 17 Aug. 2026

Alas, there’s not enough time for this deadbeat to blossom into a real dad. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026

Adjective

Debra and Pam married well — very well — until their money ran out because of their husbands’ medical issues, unpaid taxes, bad investments and deadbeat ways. — Oline H. Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 25 June 2025

Others may even cheer the hard line against supposedly deadbeat allies who in this view have taken advantage of American friendship for too long. — Peter Baker, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2024

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