failson

American  

[feyl-suhn] / ˈfeɪlˌsʌn /

noun

Slang.

1. a man who has been unsuccessful in business or life generally, especially one from a wealthy, powerful family.

   The program appeals to silver-spoon failsons who want to have something constructive to do with their time.

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Etymology

Origin of failson

First recorded in 2010–15; fail ( def. ) + son ( def. ), possibly on internet forums

Example Sentences

Connor, the failson and outcast of the Roy family, quickly backtracks, amending the statement to, “I never got to make him proud.”

From Washington Post • Apr. 12, 2023

“Oh, man. He never even liked me,” the dry-eyed failson says upon hearing the news.

From Salon • Apr. 9, 2023

He’s a failson, a nephew, a hanger-on at the Round Table, coasting on his charm, his good looks and his family connections.

From New York Times • Jul. 29, 2021

The early episodes drag, and Nathan — Helms’s blue-blood failson Andy Bernard of “The Office” by another name — flips from lightly oddball to cartoonishly unhinged whenever his heritage is questioned.

From New York Times • May 5, 2021

Meanwhile Chauncley, whom Radcliffe plays with a wide-eyed blankness and fool's grin, is a failson of the highest order but one who has a prayer of being taught very basic concepts such as compassion.

From Salon • Jan. 28, 2020