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lifer

American  
[lahy-fer] / ˈlaɪ fər /

noun

Slang.

  1. a person sentenced to or serving a term of life imprisonment.

  2. a person committed to a professional lifetime career in the military.

  3. a person who has devoted a lifetime to a profession, occupation, or pursuit.

  4. (in birding)

    1. Also called life bird.  a species of bird not seen previously and that will therefore be added to the bird watcher's life list.

    2. the sighting of a bird of a previously unseen species.

      It seems like forever since I've had a lifer!
lifer British  
/ ˈlaɪfə /

noun

  1. informal a prisoner sentenced to life imprisonment

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of lifer

First recorded in 1820–30; life + -er 1

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.

"I know I'm a football fan and a Wrexham lifer because I'm inconsolable when we lose," said Reynolds.

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026

He will be succeeded by John Furner, a Walmart lifer who worked his way up from the shop floor and now serves as head of the company's US business.

From BBC • Nov. 14, 2025

His successor is John Furner, a Walmart WMT -0.06%decrease; red down pointing triangle lifer who has been leading Walmart U.S. for several years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 14, 2025

Washington, a baseball lifer, still is perpetually upbeat, having spent 55 of his 72 years in the game.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2025

Whether or not she had it planned at the time, Mary Jackson was on her way to becoming a Langley lifer.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.