LowLife

Lowlife is an informal, pejorative term used to describe a person perceived as morally corrupt, unscrupulous, or socially disreputable. The word typically implies a connection to behavior or lifestyles considered outside the bounds of accepted norms, and it is most often applied to criminals, con artists, drug users, or others viewed as living on the margins of society. It is not a precise or technical classification and does not map onto a specific crime or sociological category.

Etymology and usage notes: Lowlife combines low with life, reflecting a judgment about someone’s character rather than a formal status. The term has appeared in English since the early to mid-20th century and has been common in American and British slang, as well as in journalism and crime fiction. Because it is strongly evaluative, its use can be confrontational or dehumanizing, and speakers may choose alternatives such as “criminal,” “scoundrel,” or “disreputable person” in formal contexts.

In culture and language, lowlife is often used to signal a character type—someone who embodies vice, opportunism, or moral laxity. In fiction, it can describe antagonists, antiheroes, or marginalized figures, but its interpretation depends on tone and context. Outside literature and entertainment, the term can reinforce stigma when applied to individuals or communities, and it is generally advised to avoid it in professional or respectful discourse.

See also: scoundrel, criminal, hoodlum, degenerate. The term is controversial and may be offensive, reflecting subjective judgments about social status and morality.