Loser

/ˈluː.zɚ/

Meaning & Definition

noun
A person who has lost in a competition or in a particular situation.
After the final match, the team that didn't win was declared the loser.
A person who is unsuccessful or has failed to achieve desired goals.
He felt like a loser after not getting the promotion he worked hard for.
A person who is socially inept or unpopular.
In high school, he was often labeled a loser for not fitting in with the popular crowd.
A person or thing that loses, especially in a game or contest.
The loser of the game had to do the dishes as a punishment.

Etymology

From lose + -er, from late Middle English 'loser'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

sore loser:
A person who reacts negatively to losing.
big loser:
Someone who has lost a significant amount, often in a financial context.
born loser:
A person who is perceived to be doomed to fail in life.

Related Words

Slang Meanings

A derogatory term for a person perceived as lacking social grace.
He's such a loser for not being able to talk to girls.
Used humorously among friends to denote a lack of success in a joking manner.
We lost the trivia game, so we're the losers of the night!