time-waster

noun

Someone who wastes their own time or the time of others.

“This puzzle book is a good time-waster when my train is late.”

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Meanings

nountime-waster (plural time-wasters)

plural time-wasters · alternative timewaster · alternative time waster

  1. Someone who wastes their own time or the time of others.

    I showed him round the property thinking he was a prospective buyer, but in fact he was just a time-waster.

  2. idiomaticinformalSomething unproductive.

    Email was supposed to improve business efficiency, but all too often it turns out to be a time-waster.

  3. Something which passes the time that may or may not be seen positively.

    This puzzle book is a good time-waster when my train is late.

Translations

Finnish ajanhukka
  • ajanhukkasomething unproductive
Polish strata czasu, obibok
  • strata czasusomething unproductive
  • obiboksomeone who wastes time
Cite this entry
APA

time-waster. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/time-waster

MLA

“time-waster.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/time-waster. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “time-waster,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/time-waster.

Source: time-waster on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.