Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Failing to win, as in a sport or game.
  • adjective Of or relating to one that fails to win.
  • noun The act of one that loses; loss.
  • noun Something lost, such as money at gambling.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Given to flattery; fawning; cozening; deceitful.
  • Causing or resulting in loss: as, a losing game, battle, or business.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Causing or likely to cause a loss.
  • adjective obsolete Given to flattery or deceit; flattering; cozening.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective That loses or lose, or has or have lost.
  • noun The action of the verb to lose.
  • verb Present participle of lose.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Queens Bench Division president Sir Anthony May summed up Jackson LJ's thinking when he stated: "Is it right in principle that a losing party should have to pay an additional amount, in excess of the proper and reasonable costs of ­litigation, to cover the ­winning party's lawyer's costs of ­losing other cases on behalf of other clients?"

    The Lawyer - Latest News 2010

  • That, it transpired, was glandular fever, and Federer was affected by it not only while losing to Murray in the first round here, but possibly even while he was ­losing his Wimbledon title and No1 ranking.

    Sport news, comment and results | guardian.co.uk Richard Jago 2010

  • "We were successful - if that's what you call losing three-quarters of the Sarronnese forces, half of our black iron equipment, and almost killing the one real wizard we have."

    The Order War Modesitt, L. E. 1995

  • Holmes and Smith took the 2A title losing only one set in three matches.

    Corpus Christi Caller Times, Caller.com Stories 2010

  • Holmes and Smith took the 2A title losing only one set in three matches.

    Corpus Christi Caller Times, Caller.com Stories 2010

  • Moreover, I believe that this conflict has no political solution that can satisfies all parties without what they call losing face.

    Today.Az 2010

  • Hey Obama - that's what you call losing the debate with America.

    digg.com: Stories / Popular 2010

  • He made contact with an elderly female who was walking along the roadside, visibly upset and panicking at what she described as losing her money while on the way to the bank for deposit.

    News for NBC4i.com 2009

  • Maybe you call it self-respect, but in losing it I also lost the respect of my children, and I am afraid I am losing my wife.

    How a New Jobless Era Will Transform America 2010

  • The group also suffered a major blow in losing at least 20 suicide bombers in failed attacks on two U.S. bases in Khost province in August, the official said.

    U.S. military, civilian officials claim progress in Afghan war Joshua Partlow 2010

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