ENGLISH
REFERENCE

loser

n. countable
A2 Elementary US //ˈɫuzɝ// UK //lˈuːzɐ// los·er Slang Vulgar

n. someone who fails to win a game or competition. It is also a common, mean way to describe a person who seems unsuccessful or unpopular.

n. a person who is defeated in a contest or competition; also used as a pejorative for a person perceived as socially unsuccessful or lacking merit.


SIMPLE

The loser of the race still gets a medal for finishing.

CONTEXTUAL

He felt like a total loser after he forgot his lines during the school play.

COMPLEX

While the official results named him the loser of the election, his supporters argued that the narrow margin of defeat actually signaled a growing political movement.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

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

Usage

Often used with the adjective 'sore' to describe someone who complains after losing.

Idioms1 entry

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