three-time loser

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

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A person who has been sentenced to prison for a third time, especially for a major crime.

Register: derogatory, 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).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Someone with bad luck or poor skills, and who consistently loses.

Register: derogatory, slang

Sources & notes

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

Common questions

What does “three-time loser” mean?

A person who has been sentenced to prison for a third time, especially for a major crime.

Is “three-time loser” formal or informal?

three-time loser is generally derogatory, slang.