Definition

Noun: 1. A horse that fails to run in a race for which it has been entered: An animal officially registered to compete but does not start the race. 2. A person with a record of failing; someone who loses consistently: An idea, plan, or person that is certain to fail or is utterly unsuccessful from the beginning.

Usage Examples

• Referring to a horse:
  • The favorite was scratched at the gate, becoming a nonstarter just moments before the race.
  • Due to an injury, their top colt was a nonstarter in the Kentucky Derby.
• Referring to a person or idea:
  • His proposal to cut all funding was a nonstarter with the committee.
  • Without the necessary qualifications, she was a nonstarter for the managerial position.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used metaphorically in business, politics, and everyday conversation to dismiss proposals or candidates that have no chance of success.
• It implies a fundamental flaw or lack of essential requirements that makes success impossible from the outset.

Variants and Related Words

• Non-starter: An alternative spelling with a hyphen.
• Starter (noun): The opposite; one that begins a race, activity, or process.

Synonyms

• Failure
• Loser (informal, when referring to a person)
• Hopeless case
• Lost cause
• Dead letter (when referring to a proposal or idea)

Idioms and Related Phrases

• Dead on arrival (DOA): A similar idiom, especially for ideas or proposals presented in a formal setting that are immediately rejected.
  • The new policy was dead on arrival at the board meeting.
• To be a nonstarter: The common phrase used to describe the state of being certain to fail.
  • Any plan that doesn't include a budget is a nonstarter.

Noun

1. a horse that fails to run in a race for which it has been entered
2. a person with a record of failing; someone who loses consistently