deadbeat — a person who avoids paying debts or fulfilling responsibilities
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a person who avoids paying debts or fulfilling responsibilities
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈdedbiːt/
Example Sentences
- The landlord was tired of dealing with deadbeat tenants who disappeared when rent was due.
- Don't lend money to Jake - he's a total deadbeat who still owes me fifty bucks from last year!
- The credit card company has a special department to track down deadbeat customers.
deadbeat
NOUN[/ˈdedbiːt/]
a person who avoids paying debts or fulfilling responsibilities
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Deadbeat originated as American slang in the 1960s, combining 'dead' (completely) and 'beat' (exhausted, worn out). Initially describing someone utterly depleted or lacking energy, the term semantically shifted to denote a person who shirks financial or social responsibilities.
Breakdown
dead (completely, utterly) + beat (exhausted, worn out; also slang for 'worthless'). The compound evolved from describing physical exhaustion to moral or financial irresponsibility.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The landlord was tired of dealing with deadbeat tenants who disappeared when rent was due.”
“Don't lend money to Jake - he's a total deadbeat who still owes me fifty bucks from last year!”
“The credit card company has a special department to track down deadbeat customers.”
“My ex-boyfriend was such a deadbeat that he borrowed money for our date and never paid it back.”
📚Related Words
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