layabout

American  

[ley-uh-bout] / ˈleɪ əˌbaʊt /

noun

Chiefly British.

1. a lazy or idle person; loafer.

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layabout British  

/ ˈleɪəˌbaʊt /

noun

1. a lazy person; loafer

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verb

1. old-fashioned (preposition, usually intr or reflexive) to hit out with violent and repeated blows in all directions

Etymology

Origin of layabout

1930–35; noun use of verb phrase lay about, nonstandard variant of lie about

Example Sentences

It stars Putthipong Assaratanakul, better known as TV star and singer Billkin, as the layabout grandson and Usha Seamkhum as the terminally ill grandmother, both making their feature debuts as well.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2025

This is a grim continuum on which to exist, skating between the poles of high-achieving hustler and dissolute layabout.

From New York Times • Feb. 17, 2024

But oh look, there’s another one, down the middle for 30-15, while our commentary team praise Pegula for having a “minted” dad – he owns the Buffalo Bills – and not being a layabout.

From The Guardian • Jan. 25, 2022

My sister and her layabout sons are facing eviction.

From Slate • Aug. 17, 2020

The supervisor is sitting extremely comfortably with his legs crossed and his arm hanging over the backrest here like some layabout.

From The Trial by Wyllie, David