Definitions

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

  • noun slang A worthless, disreputable, or malicious person.

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

  • noun A ne'er-do-well; an individual who is no good.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From no good +‎ -nik. Likely influenced by, evolved from, or borrowed directly into Yiddish from the Russian негодник (nye-GOD-nik) (“worthless person, reprobate, ne'er-do-well”)

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Examples

Comments

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  • "'Meyer Black, eh.' Price chuckled again. 'Yeah. I know him. I've done a bit of business with him myself. He's a nogoodnik. He's a smuggler. Among other things.'"

    - Robert Barrett, 'White Shoes, White Lines and Blackie'.

    August 30, 2008