loser

Pronunciation: /luzɚ/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a contestant who loses the contest
  2. noun a person with a record of failing; someone who loses consistently
  3. noun a gambler who loses a bet

Etymology

From Middle English loser, losere, equivalent to lose + -er. In the sense of contemptible or worthless individual, perhaps an alteration of losel, which see.

In classic literature

Synonyms

also-ran

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
contestant
Narrower (hyponyms)
old maid
Opposite (antonyms)
winner

A single word — an entire dictionary opens.

Type a word, a sentence, a book title, or a link to an English article. WordNet and the Classics answer.

Try

A library of classics · a vault of words · instant etymology & meaning

Continue reading

Nice save! Solidify it with review →