Flunker

/ˈflʌŋkər/ noun

Definition

A person who fails a test, class, or exam, especially in school.

Etymology

From 'flunk,' possibly from German 'plumpen' (to fail or tumble), which came into American English in the 1800s. The -er suffix creates an agent noun—someone who performs the action of flunking.

Kelly Says

The word 'flunk' arrived in American college slang, probably from German immigrants, and has become such a standard part of school vocabulary that few students realize it's a relatively young word in English.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.