nogoodnik

English

Alternative forms

• no-goodnik

Etymology

Phono-semantic matching of Russian негодник (negodnik, “worthless person, reprobate, ne'er-do-well”)

By surface analysis, no good +‎ -nik.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /nəʊˈɡʊdnɪk/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /noʊˈɡʊdnɪk/

Noun

nogoodnik (plural nogoodniks)

1. (US, slang, somewhat derogatory) A ne'er-do-well; a person who is no good.
   • 1966 September 24, TV Guide, Radnor, Pa., page 25, column 1:

     Then at the last minute Harris was brought aboard as Dr. Zachary Smith, initially an authentic, lip-curling nogoodnik who, it was presently discovered, could be better used for laughs played off Mumy and a sober-sided robot (“You bubbleheaded booby,” sneers Harris. “That does not compute,” returns the robot dryly).

   • 1984, Martin Amis, Money, Vintage, published 2005, page 182:

     Lorne's role was that of Gary, the nogoodnik father.

Synonyms

• bad guy, no-good, loser, miscreant, scoundrel

Related terms

• kibbutznik
• nudnik
• -nik