noun

lowlife

LOH-lyf

Lowlife (noun) means a dishonest, disreputable person, especially one thought to have criminal habits. Example: “The bar was full of gamblers, con artists, and other lowlifes.”

noun

A dishonest, disreputable person, especially one thought to have criminal habits.

"The bar was full of gamblers, con artists, and other lowlifes."

"She warned her daughter to stay away from that lowlife boyfriend."

adj

Disreputable or morally low; typical of such a person.

"He got mixed up in some lowlife schemes after losing his job."

How to use lowlife

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA scummy, untrustworthy person — often used as an insult for someone seen as a petty criminal or lowlife.

When to use it

Informal and insulting — not used in polite or formal writing.

Common pairings

a bunch of lowlifes lowlife criminal a real lowlife

Word forms

more lowlife comparative, lowlifes plural, lowlives plural, most lowlife superlative

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The bar was full of gamblers, con artists, and other _____.

Etymology

Simply "low" plus "life" — someone living on the low, disreputable end of society.

Synonyms

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criminal and Thesaurus:jerk

Rhymes for lowlife

Ife wife life fife rife knife strife midwife midlife wildlife penknife housewife

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Frequently asked questions

What does “lowlife” mean?

The word “lowlife” means a dishonest, disreputable person, especially one thought to have criminal habits. In plain terms, a scummy, untrustworthy person — often used as an insult for someone seen as a petty criminal or lowlife.

How do you pronounce “lowlife”?

“Lowlife” is pronounced LOH-lyf (/ˈloʊlaɪf/ in IPA).

How do you use “lowlife” in a sentence?

Here is “lowlife” used in a sentence: “The bar was full of gamblers, con artists, and other lowlifes.”

What is another word for “lowlife”?

Words with a similar meaning to “lowlife” include criminal and Thesaurus:jerk.

What part of speech is “lowlife”?

Depending on how it is used, “lowlife” can be a noun and an adjective.

How many meanings does “lowlife” have?

“Lowlife” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dishonest, disreputable person, especially one thought to have criminal habits.