What does "slacker" mean?
One who procrastinates or is lazy; one who does not do their fair share or pull their own weight.
Slacker
/ˈslækɚ/ adj, noun, slang
adj, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: One who procrastinates or is lazy; one who does not do their fair share or pull their own weight.
- Grammar: slacker is listed as adj, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: shirker, bum, bums, bungler.
- Useful contrasts: energetico, zippy, ball of energy.
- Usage evidence: Slacktivism is a portmanteau formed out of the words slacker and activism.
How to use "slacker"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "slacker" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "slacker" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "slacker" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "slacker" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "slacker" is acting as adj, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "shirker" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "slacker", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 One who procrastinates or is lazy; one who does not do their fair share or pull their own weight.
"Some evil fellows said behind his back that Beowulf was white-livered and a slacker."
- 2 a person who shirks their work or duty (especially one who tries to evade military service in wartime) wordnet
- 3 A person lacking a sense of direction in life; an underachiever.
"You're a slacker, McFly. You've got aptitude, but you don't apply yourself. You remind me of your father: He was a slacker, too."
- 4 A member of a certain 1990s subculture associated with Generation X.
"Kevin Smith wrote and directed the slacker hits “Clerks,” “Dogma” and “Chasing Amy,” but lately it is his other life—maintaining six Web sites that he describes as “devoted to my fans and my films”—that seems to consume him."
- 5 A person who seeks to avoid military service. US, dated
"[S]everal hundred prisoners captured in North Jersey slacker raids last week and sent to this camp are being Inducted into military service today[…]"
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A user of the Slackware Linux distribution. rare, slang
"I'm a slacker from way back btw"
Adjective
- 1 Comparative form of slack: more slack. comparative, form-of
"Trains normally pass at Bricket Wood, except at the slacker times of the day and on Sundays, when only one unit is in operation."
Antonyms
Example
"Slacktivism is a portmanteau formed out of the words slacker and activism."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "slacker"?
Common synonyms include: shirker, bum, bums, bungler, clock watcher, dawdler.
How do you use "slacker" in a sentence?
Slacktivism is a portmanteau formed out of the words slacker and activism.
How do you pronounce "slacker"?
Pronounced /ˈslækɚ/.
Etymology
From slack + -er; compare especially slack off.