goner: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, often colloquial or conversational.
Quick answer
What does “goner” mean?
A person or thing that is doomed or beyond hope of recovery or survival.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or thing that is doomed or beyond hope of recovery or survival.
Informally refers to someone who is in a hopeless situation (e.g., health, finances, competition) or an object that is irreparably broken.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. Both varieties use it similarly.
Connotations
Slightly more associated with humorous or dramatic exaggeration in American informal speech (e.g., "I'm a goner!" when faced with minor peril).
Frequency
Equally common and understood in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “goner” in a Sentence
[Subject] + be + a goner[Subject] + consider/think [Object] a gonerVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used humorously about a failing project: 'If we don't secure funding, this venture is a goner.'
Academic
Extremely rare; not suitable for formal writing.
Everyday
Common in informal speech about hopeless situations: relationships, sports, broken items, minor personal failures.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “goner”
- Using it as an adjective before a noun (*a goner person). It's a predicative noun only.
- Spelling: *gonner, *gonar.
- Using in overly formal contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it's commonly used for objects that are broken beyond repair (e.g., 'My laptop is a goner after I spilled coffee on it.').
No, it is strictly informal and colloquial. It's not suitable for academic, technical, or official business writing.
It is a noun. It is almost always used in the construction 'to be a goner' (predicative use).
It's a straightforward derivation from the past participle 'gone' + the agent suffix '-er', originating in the 19th century to mean 'one who is gone' or 'one who is dead/done for'.
A person or thing that is doomed or beyond hope of recovery or survival.
Goner: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡɒn.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡɑː.nɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Dead and gone (related conceptually)”
- “A goner for sure”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the word 'GONE' + 'ER' = someone who is already 'gone' in terms of hope or survival.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE/SUCCESS IS A JOURNEY; FAILURE/DEATH IS THE END OF THE JOURNEY (a 'goner' has reached the end point with no return).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is the word 'goner' used CORRECTLY?