loser
a person, team, nation, etc., that loses: The visiting team was the loser in the series.
Informal.
a person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor or, especially, a felony: a two-time loser.
a person who has failed at a particular activity: a loser at marriage.
someone or something that is marked by consistently or thoroughly bad quality, performance, etc. (opposed to winner def. 2): Don't bother to see that film, it's a real loser.
Slang. a misfit, especially someone who has never or seldom been successful at a job, personal relationship, etc.
Origin of loser
1Other words from loser
- non·los·er, noun
Words Nearby loser
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use loser in a sentence
The Arizona Coyotes would have made the playoffs in the West that year, too, if not for the loser points boosting the Colorado Avalanche’s record.
‘Loser points’ could produce some unlikely winners in 2021 NHL season | Neil Greenberg | February 5, 2021 | Washington PostThere would be losers in a major shift toward meat alternatives.
How China Could Change the World by Taking Meat Off the Menu | Charlie Campbell/Shanghai | January 22, 2021 | TimeBelow, in the weekly “By the Numbers” section, I get into the big winners and losers of the 2021 markets.
The markets may be faltering, but these surprise stocks are taking off | Bernhard Warner | January 15, 2021 | FortuneHere’s a quick rundown of the winners and losers from this head-spinning, seven-player trade.
James Harden is a winner and a loser of the Nets’ blockbuster trade | Ben Golliver | January 14, 2021 | Washington PostJames Harden is a winner and a loser of the Nets’ blockbuster tradeNo matter what they do, the Nets are going to be great offensively.
The Nets got better with the James Harden trade. How much better is up to Kyrie Irving. | Jerry Brewer | January 14, 2021 | Washington Post
In rambling posts, he called himself a loser, and wrote that he must be either bipolar or a psychopath.
School Shooters Love This Pickup Artist Website | Brandy Zadrozny | December 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe Affordable Care Act was always a short-term political loser with respect to middle-class voters.
One time I remember taking a walk and a guy drove past with his window down and yelled, ‘Hey loser, get a car!’
Stephen Merchant Talks ‘Hello Ladies’ movie, the Nicole Kidman Cameo, and Legacy of ‘The Office’ | Marlow Stern | November 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThis is a fight that immigration reform advocates believe is a loser for the GOP.
Get Ready to Start Hearing About ‘Executive Amnesty for Anchor Babies’ | Eleanor Clift | November 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST“When I first met du Pont, I thought he was the biggest loser on Earth,” Mark recently told People.
All three of themJess, Griff, and the excited loser of the pursereached for the umbrella; but Griff was the first.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage | Gertrude W. MorrisonYou shall not be the loser, Mrs. Martin, by the attention you may pay to this poor orphan girl.
The World Before Them | Susanna MoodiePayment over to the winner after notice or demand by the loser is not a good defense in an action against the stakeholder.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman | Albert Sidney BollesSi was getting a little the better of Billings, and184 the General's sympathies naturally went toward the loser.
Si Klegg, Book 2 (of 6) | John McElroyHe foresaw what it implied, however, and at once returned to Boston, to find himself a heavy loser by the financial disaster.
British Dictionary definitions for loser
/ (ˈluːzə) /
a person or thing that loses
a person or thing that seems destined to be taken advantage of, fail, etc: a born loser
bridge a card that will not take a trick
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with loser
see under finders, keepers.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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