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• loafer
  loafer

  noun

  a person who loafs; lazy person; idler.
• Loafer
  Loafer

  a brand name for a moccasinlike slip-on shoe.

loafer

¹ American  

[loh-fer] / ˈloʊ fər /

noun

• loafers
  plural

1. a person who loafs; lazy person; idler.

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Loafer ² American  

[loh-fer] / ˈloʊ fər /

Trademark.

1. a brand name for a moccasinlike slip-on shoe.

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loafer British  

/ ˈləʊfə /

noun

1. a person who avoids work; idler

2. a moccasin-like shoe for casual wear

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• loaferish
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• loafers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of loafer

1820–30, perhaps short for *landloafer vagabond; compare German (obsolete) Landläufer, Dutch landloper; see landloper

Explanation

If you're a loafer, you avoid working whenever possible, preferring to lounge around relaxing instead. And, if you're too lazy to tie your own shoes, you may prefer to wear loafers — slip-on shoes without laces. If you're a loafer at work, your co-workers will grow to resent you for doing nothing while they do their jobs. Loafers like to loaf, or "spend time in an idle, aimless way." People will call you a loafer if you spend most of your time in a reclining position, take frequent breaks for snacks and naps, or obviously avoid anything resembling hard work. This noun has been in use since the mid-1800s, but its origin isn't clear. The shoe called a loafer got its name because it's easily slipped on, without the work of laces and knots.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

loafer Loafer loafers

The soap-bubble fantasy of Ms. Lemann’s New Orleans rather calls to mind the Hundred Acre Wood, if Christopher Robin were a gentle, dissipated loafer in a wrinkled seersucker suit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026

The man whose loafer launched an empire wanted a piece of the action this time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 7, 2026

“She’s a loafer for life now,” Kelce confirmed.

From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2025

The song is the unhurried portrait of a loafer on his front porch, watching tourists sunbathe while a pot of shrimp is beginning to boil.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 2, 2023

“It’s not a boot, it’s a loafer . . . 1 . . .” “Wasn’t there no little stones or anything handy?”

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

The Campo Loafer is the ultimate in cool with its curved kitten heel and bulky asymmetrical silhouette.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 8, 2024

The fire broke out on the top floor of the Loafer Lodge in the Wellington neighbourhood of Newtown just after midnight on Tuesday.

From Reuters ● May 15, 2023

From the great Loafer, a film by Madras film-maker A Bhimsingh.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 14, 2011

Loafer pointed to the buildings of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which catalogs call: "classical Roman laid out in the French manner."

From Time Magazine Archive

I give it up, for I am only a Loafer, and the dark problems of existence are beyond me.

From The Chequers Being the Natural History of a Public-House, Set Forth in a Loafer's Diary by James Runciman

She wore a long skirt from Aritzia, a collared blue tank, a belt and loafers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026

Instead there is a collection of 12 mix-and-match pieces in navy and cream from Marks and Spencer, the FA's official partner, with not a tie in sight, all accessorised with loafers.

From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026

Over many decades, the queen in her public appearances maintained a silhouette of practicality over trend, usually a structured jacket and matching hat, along with Anello & Davide calf leather loafers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026

I’ve enjoyed your look during this album rollout: the jeans, the sweaters, the penny loafers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2026

Instead of Bermuda shorts and a T-shirt, he wore a button-down shirt, khaki pants, and leather loafers.

From "The Sea of Monsters" by Rick Riordan