short-timer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal
Quick answer
What does “short-timer” mean?
A person who has only a short time left in a job, role, or commitment before leaving.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who has only a short time left in a job, role, or commitment before leaving.
Someone nearing the end of a mandatory period, such as military service or a contract, often leading to reduced motivation or effort. Informally, anyone in the final stages of any temporary situation, like a school term or a project.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term. Its military origin is well-understood in the US. In the UK, it might be slightly less common but still recognisable.
Connotations
Primarily neutral to slightly humorous or sympathetic. Can have a slightly negative connotation if implying a lack of effort.
Frequency
Low frequency in formal contexts, occasional in informal and workplace speech. More likely to be encountered in US media and military/police culture.
Grammar
How to Use “short-timer” in a Sentence
be a short-timerbecome a short-timerhave a short-timerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “short-timer” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He's got that short-timer mindset already.
- A short-timer memo was circulated about his leaving do.
American English
- He has a real short-timer attitude.
- The short-timer calendar on his wall counts down the days.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used informally for an employee who has handed in their notice.
Academic
Rare. Might describe a visiting professor in their final term.
Everyday
Can describe a student in their final weeks of school or university.
Technical
Not a technical term. Used descriptively in HR or management discussions.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “short-timer”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He is short-timering'). It is only a compound noun.
- Confusing it with 'part-timer', which works reduced hours, not leaving soon.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not inherently. It's descriptive but can imply reduced motivation, which may be viewed negatively by managers.
No, it is only a noun (or a noun used attributively as an adjective, e.g., 'short-timer syndrome').
A 'lifer' — someone who spends their entire career in one organisation or field.
No, it is informal slang, originating in the US military. It is acceptable in casual business conversation but not in formal reports.
A person who has only a short time left in a job, role, or commitment before leaving.
Short-timer: in British English it is pronounced /ˌʃɔːt ˈtaɪ.mər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌʃɔːrt ˈtaɪ.mɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “short-timer's attitude/syndrome”
- “on short time”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SHORT TIME on a clock ticking down. A SHORT-TIMER is a person with a short time left on their personal 'clock' in a job.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A RESOURCE / A PERSON IS A CONTAINER OF TIME (running out).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'short-timer' LEAST likely to be used?