# deadbeat dad

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/deadbeat-dad
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A man, especially one who is divorced or estranged from his partner, who fails to provide monetary child support when he is legally required to do so.

## Examples

- She struggles to raise her kids because their father is a deadbeat dad.
- The court ordered him to pay child support, but he remains a deadbeat dad who refuses to contribute a single cent.
- Despite his public claims of being a devoted parent, his former partner labeled him a deadbeat dad due to his persistent refusal to provide the legally mandated financial support.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.