loser

American  

[loo-zer] / ˈlu zər /

noun

1. a person, team, nation, etc., that loses.

   The visiting team was the loser in the series.

2. Informal.

   1. a person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor or, especially, a felony.

      a two-time loser.

   2. a person who has failed at a particular activity.

      a loser at marriage.

   3. someone or something that is marked by consistently or thoroughly bad quality, performance, etc. (winner ).

      Don't bother to see that film, it's a real loser.

3. Slang. a misfit, especially someone who has never or seldom been successful at a job, personal relationship, etc.

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loser British  

/ ˈluːzə /

noun

1. a person or thing that loses

2. a person or thing that seems destined to be taken advantage of, fail, etc

   a born loser

3. bridge a card that will not take a trick

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loser Idioms  

1. see under finders, keepers.

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Other Word Forms

• nonloser noun

Etymology

Origin of loser

1300–50; Middle English losere destroyer; lose, -er ¹

Example Sentences

She isn’t a loser and she’s not doomed.

From Literature

This was helped by a turnaround for several states that went from net losers to gainers, including Ohio, Minnesota and Michigan.

From The Wall Street Journal

The next biggest losers were American Express, and Home Depot, which were each only dragging the Dow down by around 35 points.

From Barron's

What makes this “healthy correction” as opposed to a bubble bursting is that there is plenty of differentiation between winners and losers.

From MarketWatch

And like in any squabble, there will be a winner and a loser.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• also-ran
• underdog