Standard Lemma guide

shirker

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

One who shirks a duty or responsibility.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: derelict

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

One who is lazy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a person who shirks his work or duty (especially one who tries to evade military service in wartime)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: slacker

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: idler, loafer, do-nothing, layabout, bum

Narrower terms: goldbrick, malingerer, skulker, shammer, scrimshanker

History

Etymology

From shirk + -er.

Across languages

Translations

30 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: кръшкач (krǎškač) — Someone who shirks
  • Catalan: emboscat — Someone who shirks
  • Dutch: uitslover — Someone who shirks
  • German: Drückeberger — Someone who shirks
  • German: Verpisser — Someone who shirks
  • Indonesian: pembolos — Someone who shirks
  • Italian: sfaticato — Someone who shirks
  • Māori: karioi — Someone who shirks
  • Māori: kaikaro — Someone who shirks
  • Marathi: कामचोर (kāmcor) — Someone who shirks
  • Polish: bumelant — Someone who shirks
  • Polish: bumelantka — Someone who shirks
  • Spanish: embuscado — Someone who shirks
  • Spanish: candongo — Someone who shirks
  • Bulgarian: мързеливец (mǎrzelivec) — Someone who is lazy
  • Dutch: luiaard — Someone who is lazy
  • German: Faulpelz — Someone who is lazy
  • German: Faulenzer — Someone who is lazy
  • Italian: pigrone — Someone who is lazy
  • Italian: lazzarone — Someone who is lazy
  • Italian: perdigiorno — Someone who is lazy
  • Māori: inukorokoro — Someone who is lazy
  • Māori: karioi — Someone who is lazy
  • Māori: ringa mākohakoha — Someone who is lazy
  • Plautdietsch: Schlosäwendoot — Someone who is lazy
  • Polish: nierób — Someone who is lazy
  • Polish: obibok — Someone who is lazy
  • Polish: bumelant — Someone who is lazy
  • Polish: bumelantka — Someone who is lazy
  • Spanish: remolón — Someone who is lazy