Meanings
noundeadbeat dad (plural deadbeat dads)
plural deadbeat dads
- CanadaUSderogatoryidiomaticA man, especially one who is divorced or estranged from his partner, who fails to provide monetary child support when he is legally required to do so.
If the '90s offer one villain by consensus, it is the deadbeat dad, that selfish fugitive condemned by liberals and conservatives alike for his irresponsible behavior and generous contributions to the cycle of welfare dependency.
1995 April 3, David Van Biema, “Dunning Deadbeats”, in Time - broadlyderogatoryidiomaticinformalA man who is voluntarily absent and uncaring towards his children, especially one who leaves them entirely in their mother's care.
Translations
Polish ojciec niepłacący alimentów, alimenciarz
- ojciec niepłacący alimentówTranslations
- alimenciarzTranslations
Spanish padre negligente / irresponsable / incumplidor, mal papá
- padre negligente / irresponsable / incumplidorTranslations
- mal papáTranslations
- papito corazónTranslations
Cite this entry
APA
deadbeat dad. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deadbeat%20dad
MLA
“deadbeat dad.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deadbeat%20dad. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “deadbeat dad,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/deadbeat%20dad.
Source: deadbeat dad on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.