deadbeat

Etymology

See discussion page

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈdɛdbiːt/

Noun

deadbeat (plural deadbeats)

1. A lazy and/or irresponsible person who is often unemployed, often depending upon wealthy or otherwise financially independent people for support.
   • 2016 Eric Andrew-Gee Why and how Ontarians change their names in the 21st century The Globe and Mail

     With a few exceptions, all those changes were published in the Ontario Gazette, a little-read compendium of government business that comes out every week. The province requires this by law, as do most Canadian jurisdictions, nominally to thwart fraudsters and deadbeats.

2. A person who defaults on debts.

Adjective

deadbeat (not comparable)

1. (of an instrument) having a damped needle that stops without oscillation
2. defaulting on one's debts
3. defeated or exhausted
4. lazy or irresponsible
5. dead tired