layabout
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A lazy person.
Register: informal, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
That’s better. Gilbert Goodie! I should have known it was you. The one-legged layabout. The uni-ped idler. The stumpy skiver. Stealing coins from a wishing well now, are we? You couldn’t make it up!
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 “layabout” mean?
A lazy person.
Is “layabout” formal or informal?
layabout is generally informal, slang.