loser

[loo-zer]

noun

1. a person, team, nation, etc., that loses.

   The visiting team was the loser in the series.

2. Informal.

   1. a person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor or, especially, a felony.

      a two-time loser.

   2. a person who has failed at a particular activity.

      a loser at marriage.

   3. someone or something that is marked by consistently or thoroughly bad quality, performance, etc. (winner ).

      Don't bother to see that film, it's a real loser.

3. Slang.,  a misfit, especially someone who has never or seldom been successful at a job, personal relationship, etc.

loser

/ ˈluːzə /

noun

1. a person or thing that loses

2. a person or thing that seems destined to be taken advantage of, fail, etc

   a born loser

3. bridge a card that will not take a trick

Other Word Forms

• nonloser noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of loser¹

1300–50; Middle English losere destroyer; lose, -er ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see under finders, keepers.

Example Sentences

However, England will be keen to have Aldcroft's influence back for a probable quarter-final meeting with the losers of Canada and Scotland's match earlier on Saturday.

From BBC

But to call Guehi the loser in this plot of twists and turns would not be entirely accurate.

From BBC

Yet all that success seems only to have attracted more of the losers she sang about last time.

From Los Angeles Times

Conservatives also subvert markets and free enterprise by picking and choosing “winners” and “losers” through special tax breaks, subsidies and loan guarantees for big business.

From Salon

The healthy carrot dangling at the end of that stick was $250,000 and the title of “biggest loser,” both awarded to the person who could drop the most weight within a matter of months.

From Salon

Related Words

• also-ran 
• underdog