slacker: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1informal, mildly pejorative
Quick answer
What does “slacker” mean?
A person who avoids work or effort.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who avoids work or effort; someone who is lazy and lacks diligence.
In cultural contexts, it can refer to a person, often young, who rejects conventional career and social ambitions (popularized by 1990s 'slacker' culture).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Slightly more associated with US 'Gen X' culture.
Connotations
In both, primarily negative (lazy). In US, can have a countercultural, anti-establishment nuance from 1990s usage.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “slacker” in a Sentence
be/label someone a slackerwork with a slackera slacker at + [place/work]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “slacker” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's been slacking off all week.
- Stop slacking and get on with it!
American English
- Quit slacking and help out.
- She was accused of slacking on the job.
adverb
British English
- (Rare, from 'slackly') He worked slackly and missed the deadline.
American English
- (Rare) He ambled slackly through his tasks.
adjective
British English
- He has a bit of a slacker mentality.
- It was a slacker approach to revision.
American English
- That's a slacker move.
- His slacker lifestyle couldn't last.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used critically to describe an unproductive employee.
Academic
Rare in formal writing; appears in sociology/cultural studies discussing youth culture.
Everyday
Common informal label for someone not pulling their weight.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “slacker”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “slacker”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “slacker”
- Using in formal contexts.
- Confusing with 'slack' (the verb/adjective).
- Spelling: 'slaker' (incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is informal and critical, but not a severe insult. Tone and context matter; it can be used jokingly among friends.
Yes, commonly used by parents or teachers for a child avoiding chores or homework (e.g., 'Don't be such a slacker, tidy up').
A procrastinator delays tasks but may eventually do them. A slacker avoids effort and responsibility altogether.
Rarely. In 1990s culture, it was sometimes worn as a badge of honour by those rejecting materialism, but it generally retains a negative core.
A person who avoids work or effort.
Slacker is usually informal, mildly pejorative in register.
Slacker: in British English it is pronounced /ˈslækə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈslækər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Slacker generation”
- “No slacker (archaic: not a lazy person)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SLACK + ER. Someone who keeps things slack (loose, not tight) and avoids tightening up their effort.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORK IS TENSION; a slacker releases the tension (slackens effort).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'slacker' be LEAST appropriate?