deadbeat
/ˈdɛdbiːt/noun, adjective
deadbeat is spelled D-E-A-D-B-E-A-T: 8 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 38,416th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a derogatory noun, deadbeat means “A lazy or irresponsible person who is often unemployed, often depending upon wealthy or otherwise financially independent people for support” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of deadbeat is deadbeats.
How many letters and syllables are in deadbeat?
| Letters | 8: D-E-A-D-B-E-A-T |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 2 million words; the 38,416th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is deadbeat?
Deadbeat appears about once in every 2 million words in written English, the 38,416th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce deadbeat?
- UK /ˈdɛdbiːt/
Deadbeat has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Flame,_not_lame-deadbeat.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with deadbeat
Also written: dead-beat (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of deadbeat
- deadbeats plural
- dead beat
- dead-beat
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does deadbeat mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
derogatoryA lazy or irresponsible person who is often unemployed, often depending upon wealthy or otherwise financially independent people for support.
- 2
A person who defaults on debts.
- 3
slangA customer who pays their credit card or loan balance in full and on time each month, thereby incurring no interest charges. (Compare revolver, who carries a balance and pays interest.)
adjective
- 1
Having a damped needle that stops without oscillation.
- 2
Defaulting on one's debts.
- 3
Defeated or exhausted.
- 4
derogatoryLazy or irresponsible.
- 5
Dead tired.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Deadbeat in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| German | Faulpelz, Gammler, Schnorrer , fix und fertig, völlig erschöpft |
| Portuguese | vagabundo, parasita, aproveitador |
| Spanish | incumplidor, faltón |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does deadbeat come from?
From dead + beat. As an adjective, of a person, to be exhausted, first use appears c. the 1820s. During the American Civil War, it also became a derogatory adjective, in the sense of "a person that defaults on their debts or avoids responsibilities" and "sponger", "vagabond". This sense dates from c. 1863. Possibly related to good for nothing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).