Definition

Noun: A person who habitually takes advantage of others' generosity without giving or paying anything in return; someone who lives off the financial or material support of others while making no contribution.

Usage and Examples

A "freeloader" describes a person who exploits the hospitality, resources, or goodwill of others. * He stopped inviting his cousin to parties because he was a freeloader who never brought anything to share. * The landlord grew tired of the tenant who was a freeloader, constantly avoiding rent and using the utilities for free. * In a shared apartment, it's important that everyone contributes to the chores to avoid anyone being seen as a freeloader.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• The term carries a strong negative connotation of laziness, entitlement, and exploitation. It implies a conscious choice to avoid responsibility.
• It can be used in both personal contexts (friends, family) and broader societal or economic discussions.
• Conceptual Use: The idea can be extended metaphorically. For example, a country might be accused of being a "freeloader" in an international alliance if it benefits from security without contributing forces or funds.

Variants and Related Words

• To Freeload (verb): The action of being a freeloader.
  • He's been freeloading off his parents for years.
• Freeloading (noun/gerund): The practice or habit of being a freeloader.
  • Her freeloading finally led to an argument.

Synonyms

• Moocher: (Informal) Very similar to freeloader, emphasizing the act of constantly asking for things.
• Sponger: (Informal) Someone who absorbs resources from others like a sponge.
• Parasite: A harsher, more biological metaphor implying the person lives at the direct expense of another's health or resources.
• Scrounger: (Informal) Focuses on the act of seeking out and obtaining things from others without payment.
• Deadbeat: Often implies someone who avoids paying debts, but can overlap with freeloader in contexts of shirking financial responsibility.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• To live off the backs of others: A vivid idiom describing the same exploitative behavior as a freeloader.
  • The dictator and his cronies lived off the backs of the impoverished population.
• To sponge off (someone): A phrasal verb synonymous with freeloading.
  • He's 30 years old and still sponging off his elderly parents.

Noun

1. someone who takes advantage of the generosity of others