Etymology From dead + beat. As an adjective, of a person, to be exhausted, first use appears c. the 1820s. During the American Civil War, it also became a derogatory adjective, in the sense of "a person that defaults on their debts or avoids responsibilities" and "sponger", "vagabond". This sense dates from c. 1863. Possibly related to good for nothing.
1
Derogatory A lazy or irresponsible person who is often unemployed, often depending upon wealthy or otherwise financially independent people for support.
2
A person who defaults on debts.
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 September 9, Eric Andrew-Gee, “Why and how Ontarians change their names in the 21st century”, in The Globe and Mail, archived from the original on 03 Oct 2016:
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Banking, BusinessIronic, Slang A customer who pays their credit card or loan balance in full and on time each month, thereby incurring no interest charges. (Compare revolver, who carries a balance and pays interest.)
Deadbeat is slang for a credit card user who pays their balance in full and on time each month. […] A deadbeat is also called a "nonrevolver" or a "transactor." […] However, so-called deadbeats in the credit world also do not rack up bills they never pay, so they do not generate significant losses for credit card companies like real deadbeats, who do not pay their bills.2026 May 17, “"Deadbeat" Credit Card Users: Definition and Benefits”, in Investopedia, archived from the original on 14 Jun 2026:
Etymology From dead + beat. As an adjective, of a person, to be exhausted, first use appears c. the 1820s. During the American Civil War, it also became a derogatory adjective, in the sense of "a person that defaults on their debts or avoids responsibilities" and "sponger", "vagabond". This sense dates from c. 1863. Possibly related to good for nothing.
1
Of an instrument Having a damped needle that stops without oscillation.