loafer
Loafer (noun) means a person who avoids work and idles their time away. Example: “The manager complained that half the shift were loafers.”
How to use loafer
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither someone who is lazy and idle, or a slip-on shoe without laces.
Word forms
loafered past tense, loafers plural, loafers plural, loafers plural, loafers singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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).
Synonyms
View more →Rhymes for loafer
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.