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Definition of slacker

slacker

/ˈslæk.ər/
slack · er
Plural:slackers
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slacker Lexical Profile

slacker Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person who habitually avoids work, effort, or responsibility.

Example

"The rest of the group resented doing extra work to cover for the slacker on their team."

2

A person who evades military service or other civic duties in wartime (historical).

Example

"During the First World War, local authorities conducted raids to apprehend suspected draft slackers."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for slacker

• Nearby Words

slab
slack
slacken
slacker
slacklining
slackly
slackness

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 19th century from the verb 'slack' (from Old English 'slæc', meaning lazy or careless) plus the agent suffix '-er'. It gained widespread prominence during World War I to describe someone who evaded military service, and was later popularized in the 1990s to describe aimless, underachieving youth.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Slacker. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/slacker
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