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Lifer - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A lifer is a person sentenced to life in prison or someone who spends their entire career in a particular job or organization, showing long-term commitment.

lifer

/ˈlaɪfər/ /ˈlaɪfə/

Definition:

A person serving a life sentence in prison, or someone deeply committed to a particular career or lifestyle.

Synonyms:

convict, inmate, long-termer, careerist

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

parolee, short-timer

Common Collocations:

prison lifer, military lifer, career lifer, hardened lifer

Derivatives:

lifers (plural), liferhood (rare)

Usage Tips:

Use "lifer" for someone with a lifelong commitment or a prisoner serving life; avoid casual use for trivial contexts.

Common Phrases:

"lifer in the system, " "military lifer, " "career lifer"

Etymology:

Derived from "life" + "-er," first used in the 19th century for prisoners sentenced to life terms.

Examples:

  • 1. He’s a lifer in the army, having served for 30 years.
  • 2. The judge sentenced him to be a lifer with no chance of parole.
  • 3. She’s a lifer at the company, working there since graduation.
  • 4. Many lifers form close bonds with fellow inmates over decades.

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