mall rat

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A young person who frequently loiters in a shopping mall, especially to socialize with friends.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English
Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “mall rat” mean?

A young person who frequently loiters in a shopping mall, especially to socialize with friends.

Is “mall rat” formal or informal?

mall rat is generally slang.