Shirker Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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shirker

[ˈʃɜː.kər ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

person who avoids work or responsibility

A shirker is someone who consistently avoids their duties or responsibilities, especially when it comes to work or tasks assigned to them. Shirking often involves making excuses or finding ways to avoid doing what is expected of them.

Synonyms

loafer, malingerer, slacker.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
shirker	Typically used to describe someone who avoids work, responsibilities or duties, especially in a work or military context. It carries a negative connotation. He's a known shirker who never completes his assignments. The team accused him of being a shirker when he skipped another meeting.
slacker	A casual term for someone who deliberately avoids work or effort. This can be used in both serious and lighthearted contexts, depending on the tone. Tom is such a slacker; he never finishes his homework on time. Stop being a slacker and help clean the garage.
loafer	Usually refers to someone who is lazy and avoids work or physical effort. It can be informal and mildly negative. He spent all day at the beach like a true loafer. Don't be a loafer; start doing your chores.
malingerer	Describes an individual who pretends to be ill or incapable to avoid work or responsibilities. It is often used in medical or workplace contexts and has a negative connotation. The boss suspected him of being a malingerer because he called in sick right before the deadline. Some malingerers try to prolong their sick leave as much as possible.

Examples of usage

He was known around the office as a shirker, always finding ways to avoid taking on extra projects.
The teacher warned the students not to be shirkers and to complete their assignments on time.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

military context

In a military setting, a shirker is a soldier who avoids combat duty or tries to get out of dangerous missions. Shirking in the military can have serious consequences and is often seen as a betrayal of one's comrades.

Synonyms

coward, deserter, traitor.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
shirker	Used to describe someone who avoids work or responsibilities consistently. John was known as a shirker at the office because he always found excuses to skip tasks
deserter	Refers to someone who abandons their duty or post, often used in a military context. The deserter left his unit in the middle of the night, abandoning his comrades
coward	Describes someone who lacks courage, usually in situations involving danger or fear. During the fire, Tom was called a coward for not helping his neighbors and running away
traitor	Describes someone who betrays a person, cause, or country, usually for personal gain. This term carries a strong negative connotation. He was branded a traitor after leaking confidential information to the enemy

Examples of usage

The captain quickly identified the shirker in his platoon and assigned him extra guard duty as punishment.
Shirkers are not tolerated in the army, as they put the lives of their fellow soldiers at risk.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'shirker'

The word 'shirker' originated from the Middle English word 'shirken', meaning 'to avoid' or 'to shrink'. Over time, it evolved to refer specifically to someone who avoids work or duty. The term gained popularity in the military context during wartime, where shirkers were seen as betraying their comrades. Today, 'shirker' is commonly used to describe someone who tries to avoid responsibilities in various settings.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #39,797, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.

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39794 abracadabra
39795 grittiness
39796 captivation
39797 shirker
39798 dorky
39799 slinked
39800 swelter
...