loser

The word “loser” means someone who fails to win a game, contest, or competition. In plain terms, someone who loses, or (informally) someone looked down on as unsuccessful.

“Loser” is pronounced loo-zuh (/luzɚ/ in IPA).

Here is “loser” used in a sentence: “The loser of the match shook hands graciously.”

“Loser” is a noun.

“Loser” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“Loser” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone who fails to win a game, contest, or competition.

Loser, with one o, is a noun meaning someone who fails to win, or an insult for a person seen as unsuccessful. Looser, with two o's, is the comparative form of the adjective loose and means less tight, as in a looser fit. Because the verb is lose, the person is a loser — mixing the two is one of the most common spelling errors in English.

In its informal sense, yes: it labels a person as unsuccessful, pathetic, or contemptible, so it is a genuine insult rather than mild teasing. The literal sense — the person or team that fails to win a game or contest — is neutral and simply the opposite of winner. Tone and context make clear which sense is intended.

A sore loser is someone who reacts badly to defeat, complaining, sulking, or blaming others instead of accepting the result. The opposite is a good loser or gracious loser, who accepts losing politely. Both are fixed, everyday collocations in British and American English.

A runner-up finishes second in a competition, and the word carries a sense of achievement. A loser is simply anyone who fails to win, and in casual speech it often sounds dismissive or insulting. Formal contexts such as award ceremonies prefer runner-up or finalist for exactly that reason.