bum

¹ American  

[buhm] / bʌm /

noun

1. a person who avoids work and sponges on others; loafer; idler.

2. a tramp, hobo, or derelict.

   Synonyms:

   vagrant, vagabond

3. Informal. an enthusiast of a specific sport or recreational activity, especially one who gives it priority over work, family life, etc..

   a ski bum; a tennis bum.

4. Informal. an incompetent person.

5. a drunken orgy; debauch.

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verb (used with object)

bums, present (3rd person singular) bummed, past participle, past bumming present participle

1. Informal. to borrow without expectation of returning; get for nothing; cadge.

   He's always bumming cigarettes from me.

2. Slang. to ruin or spoil.

   The weather bummed our whole weekend.

verb (used without object)

bums, present (3rd person singular) bummed, past participle, past bumming present participle

1. to sponge on others for a living; lead an idle or dissolute life.

2. to live as a hobo.

adjective

bummer, bummest

1. Slang. of poor, wretched, or miserable quality; unsatisfactory.

   I figured $300 was a bum deal for a minor repair, but I paid it anyway.

2. Slang. fraudulent or fake.

   He was accused of issuing a bum check for $2920.

3. Slang. disappointing; unpleasant.

4. Slang. erroneous or ill-advised; misleading.

   I think the gauge is giving me a bum readout.

5. Slang. physically disabled, impaired, or injured.

   a bum leg.

verb phrase

1. bum around to travel, wander, or spend one's time aimlessly.

   We bummed around for a couple of hours after work.

idioms

1. on the bum,

   1. living or traveling as or in a manner suggesting that of a hobo or tramp.

   2. in a state of disrepair or disorder.

      The oven is on the bum again.

2. bum (someone) out, to disappoint, upset, or annoy.

   It really bummed me out that she could have helped and didn't.

bum ² American  

[buhm] / bʌm /

noun

Chiefly British Slang.

1. the buttocks; rump.

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bum ¹ British  

/ bʌm /

noun

1. a disreputable loafer or idler

2. a tramp; hobo

3. an irresponsible, unpleasant, or mean person

4. a person who spends a great deal of time on a specified sport

   baseball bum

5. 1. living as a loafer or vagrant

   2. out of repair; broken

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verb

1. (tr) to get by begging; cadge

   to bum a lift

2. to live by begging or as a vagrant or loafer

3. to spend time to no good purpose; loaf; idle

4. slang to disappoint, annoy, or upset someone

adjective

1. (prenominal) of poor quality; useless

2. wrong or inappropriate

   a bum note

bum ² British  

/ bʌm /

noun

1. slang the buttocks or anus

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bum More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing bum

• on the blink (bum)

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

• bumming
  present
• bummed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• bum
  simple
• bums
  simple
• have bummed
  perfect
• has bummed
  perfect
• are bumming
  progressive
• am bumming
  progressive
• is bumming
  progressive
• have been bumming
  perfect progressive
• has been bumming
  perfect progressive

Past

• bummed
  simple
• had bummed
  perfect
• was bumming
  progressive
• were bumming
  progressive
• had been bumming
  perfect progressive

Future

• will bum
  simple
• will have bummed
  perfect
• will be bumming
  progressive
• will have been bumming
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of bum¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1860–65; perhaps a shortening of or back formation from bummer ¹; adjective senses of unclear relation to sense “loafer” and perhaps of distinct origin

Origin of bum²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English bom; of uncertain origin

Explanation

Your bum is your bottom. This word can also be used to refer to a vagrant, although it's generally considered offensive or insensitive. Bum is a name sometimes given to a beggar or vagrant: someone who tries to bum change from you. This word can also be used as a general insult, as in "The Yankees are bums!" (if you're a Red Sox fan) or "The Red Sox are bums!" (if you're a Yankees fan). A false accusation is a bum rap. As a verb, bum is a term for lazing around, as in, "I didn't have any homework this afternoon, so I just bummed around and played video games."

Example Sentences

“We think the balance of payments will turn its strongest in 15 years with foreign portfolio inflows,” economist Bum Ki Son writes in a note.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

A 1793 cartoon designed to imitate The Bum Shop called Cestina Warehouse or Belly Piece Shop shows two salesmen attending women who are shopping for tummy pads.

From Slate • Jul. 21, 2025

“It Takes a Nation…” made PE’s first album, “Yo! Bum Rush the Show,” sound antiquated.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 7, 2023

Steven Kent, Will Sherriff and Sam Holland combined for five walks and a hit batter in a three-run bottom of the eighth, when Holland struck out Sung Bum Na to strand two runners.

From Washington Times • Mar. 9, 2023

"Bread," Tyrion told him, "and two of those little fish, and a mug of that good dark beer to wash them down. Oh, and some bacon. Bum it until it turns black."

From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• bogus
• fake
• fraudulent
• phony
• sham