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

Heart emoji on the new additions: “All I know is they’re all going to be more popular than this loser,” pointing to Day.

From Los Angeles Times

Emil Michael, the former Silicon Valley executive who has been the Pentagon’s point person in its dispute with artificial-intelligence company Anthropic, prides himself on negotiating deals that leave even the losers feeling good.

From The Wall Street Journal

Sectors have diverged sharply as investors sort through the winners and losers in the conflict.

From Barron's

Sectors have diverged sharply as investors sort through the winners and losers in the conflict.

From Barron's

Sectors have diverged sharply as investors sort through the winners and losers in the conflict.

From Barron's

Related Words

• also-ran
• underdog