slacker

American  

[slak-er] / ˈslæk ər /

noun

1. a person who evades their duty or work; shirker.

   Synonyms:

   laggard, dodger, malingerer

2. an especially educated young person who is antimaterialistic, purposeless, apathetic, and usually works in a dead-end job.

3. a person who evades military service.

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slacker British  

/ ˈslækə /

noun

1. a person who evades work or duty; shirker

2. informal

   1. an educated young adult characterized by cynicism and apathy

   2. ( as modifier )

      slacker culture

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Etymology

Origin of slacker

First recorded in 1790–1800; slack ¹ ( def. ) + -er ¹ ( def. ); slacker def. 2 popularized by the film Slackers (1991)

Explanation

A slacker is someone who can't be relied on to do a job or finish a project. If you're looking for the slacker in your family, you'll probably find him on the couch. Nobody wants a slacker on their soccer team. Slackers avoid effort of any kind, putting work off or getting someone else to do it for them. While slacker is commonly thought of as a word from the 1990s — there was even a movie called Slackers made in 1991 — it's actually been around since at least the late 1800s. In the early 20th century, Sudanese workers protested their lack of voice and power by slacking, or working very slowly.

Example Sentences

LiveOne will spin off PodcastOne as a separate public company LiveOne, the parent company of Slacker Radio, will spin off its podcast business into a separate public entity, the company said Monday.

From The Verge • Jul. 19, 2022

Films like "Reality Bites" and "Slacker" helped perpetuate the image of Gen Xers as irreverent and jaded.

From Salon • Feb. 5, 2022

Slacker mice don’t have to lift a paw to reap the brain benefits of exercise.

From Science Magazine • Dec. 8, 2021

McGee is still on texting terms with Noel, he recently told Phil Taggart's Slacker Podcast.

From BBC • Feb. 23, 2021

Carter Brooks sat beside me, and observed: "You see, Bab, although a Slacker myself, I cannot bear that such brave spirits as those of the Girls' Aviation Corps should go hungry."

From Bab: a Sub-Deb by Rinehart, Mary Roberts