English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

noun

loafer

LOH-fuh

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Loafer (noun) means a person who avoids work and idles their time away. Example: “The manager complained that half the shift were loafers.”

noun

1

A person who avoids work and idles their time away.

"The manager complained that half the shift were loafers."

"He was branded a loafer after missing three deadlines in a row."

2

A casual, low-cut slip-on shoe with no laces.

"He wore leather loafers with no socks to the office."

"She kept a pair of loafers by the door for quick errands."

How to use loafer

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither someone who is lazy and idle, or a slip-on shoe without laces.

Common pairings

a pair of loafers lazy loafer leather loafers

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: loafers
Third person singular: loafers
Past tense: loafered

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The manager complained that half the shift were _____.

Etymology

Perhaps short for landloafer, possibly a partial translation of German Landläufer (compare dialectal German loofen (“to run”), and English landlouper); or more likely connected to Middle English love, loove, loffinge, looffinge (“a remnant, the rest, that which remains or lingers”), from Old English lāf (“remainder, residue, what is left”) (more at lave), which is akin to Scots lave (“the rest, remainder”), Old English lǣfan (“to let remain, leave behind”) (more at leave).

Origin: German

Synonyms

idler layabout bum penny loafer

Related words

can behind ass broken bottom seat rear tail

Rhymes for loafer

wafer Schafer

See all rhymes for loafer →

Frequently asked questions

What does “loafer” mean?

The word “loafer” means a person who avoids work and idles their time away. In plain terms, either someone who is lazy and idle, or a slip-on shoe without laces.

How do you pronounce “loafer”?

“Loafer” is pronounced LOH-fuh (/ˈloʊfɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “loafer” in a sentence?

Here is “loafer” used in a sentence: “The manager complained that half the shift were loafers.”

What is another word for “loafer”?

Words with a similar meaning to “loafer” include penny loafer.

What part of speech is “loafer”?

“Loafer” is a noun.

How many meanings does “loafer” have?

“Loafer” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who avoids work and idles their time away.

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can behind ass broken bottom seat rear tail

etymology from Wiktionary