hanger-on
noun
a person who remains in a place or joins a group, another person, etc., especially in the hope or expectation of personal gain, even though their presence may be neither wanted nor needed.
hangers-on
-
pluralof hanger-on.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The last of them, these spent survivors, these hangers-on, had trudged to the Citrus Show to talk about the real problem, which was the disease.
From Slate ● Apr. 20, 2026
Everyone acted up: secretaries, senior partners, mailroom clerks, hangers-on.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 17, 2025
Think backward: Where things begin is the bitter end, at a glitzy Hollywood Hills party in 1976 full of showbiz hangers-on.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 5, 2025
A political get together, a party conference for the politicians, members, and associated hangers-on, would never transform a prime minister's fortunes with the public overnight.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2025
He was standing, straight and handsome and altogether by himself, alone in the room with the hangers-on as we shut the door.
From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway
