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

winning
The act of achieving victory.
success
The achievement of desired aims or results.
failure
The lack of success.

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!