bum
n. countable B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈbəm// UK //bˈʌm// bum
n. a person who avoids work and depends on others for money or support. The word is informal and often used in a negative or mocking way.
n. a person who avoids work and relies on others for financial support. Informal register; frequently considered vulgar or derogatory.
The manager called him a bum for skipping shifts repeatedly.
The article criticized the politician for living off government handouts, calling him a lazy bum.
In the novel, the protagonist's descent into poverty is depicted through his reluctant acceptance of a life defined by the harsh realities of being a bum in a struggling economy.
Usage
Often used in a derogatory or mocking context; typically paired with prepositions like 'on' or 'for' ('a bum on welfare')