To shirk means to avoid work or responsibility that you're supposed to do. When someone shirks their duties, they find excuses to get out of tasks they don't enjoy or sneak away when there's hard work to be done. A student who shirks their homework might claim they left their books at school, or a teammate who shirks during practice might disappear to the bathroom whenever difficult drills begin.

Shirking is different from taking a legitimate break or asking for help when you're overwhelmed. A shirker deliberately dodges obligations while hoping someone else will pick up the slack. On a group project, the person who shirks might show up late to meetings, contribute weak ideas, and leave early, forcing others to carry the load.

The word often appears when discussing people who don't pull their weight. If someone accuses you of shirking your responsibilities, they're saying you're not doing your fair share. Over time, shirkers may develop reputations that affect how others see them and whether they trust them.