A slacker is someone who avoids work or effort, especially when they're supposed to be doing something. In school, a slacker might skip homework, put off studying until the last minute, or do the bare minimum on group projects while others carry the load. At home, a slacker might ignore their chores, hoping someone else will do them instead.

The word captures dodging responsibilities rather than taking earned breaks. A tired student who takes a nap after finishing their homework isn't slacking. But someone who watches TV for hours while their science project sits untouched? That's slacking off.

Slackers often have excuses ready. They might say they'll do it later, or claim they work better under pressure, but the pattern stays the same: avoiding effort when it matters. The frustrating part about slackers isn't that they can't do the work; it's that they choose not to, often leaving others to pick up the slack (meaning covering for someone else's unfinished work).