Meaning & use

Freeloading

noun·Everyday

Last updated

The practice of taking advantage of others' generosity, especially for food, money, or lodging, without contributing anything in return.

See it in a sentence

His roommates were fed up with his freeloading and asked him to start paying rent.

The company cracked down on freeloading employees who used office supplies for personal projects.

A note on using this word

An informal, disapproving American term that became popular in the mid-20th century for living off others without giving anything back.

Words with a similar meaning

spongingmooching

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

contributing

Another way to use it

2. verb

Taking advantage of others' resources or generosity without paying or contributing.

He's been freeloading off his parents since he graduated.

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