Definition of "deadbeat"

deadbeat

/ˈdɛdbiːt/

noun
plural deadbeats
1. (derogatory) A lazy or irresponsible person who is often unemployed, often depending upon wealthy or otherwise financially independent people for support.
  Quotations
  With a few exceptions, all those changes were published in the Ontario Gazette, a little-read compendium of government business that comes out every week. The province requires this by law, as do most Canadian jurisdictions, nominally to thwart fraudsters and deadbeats.
  2016 Eric Andrew-Gee Why and how Ontarians change their names in the 21st century The Globe and Mail
2. A person who defaults on debts.
adjective
not comparable
1. (of an instrument) Having a damped needle that stops without oscillation.
2. Defaulting on one's debts.
3. Defeated or exhausted.
4. (derogatory) Lazy or irresponsible.
5. Dead tired.