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.
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.