bummer
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
An idle, worthless fellow, without any visible means of support; a dissipated sponger.
Register: dated, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
“If I get away I sha’n’t be here,” I says, “to prove these rapscallions ain’t your uncles, and I couldn’t do it if I was here. I could swear they was beats and bummers, that’s all, though that’s worth something.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “bummer” mean?
An idle, worthless fellow, without any visible means of support; a dissipated sponger.
Is “bummer” formal or informal?
bummer is generally dated, slang.