deadbeat dad
Child-support evader
A deadbeat dad is a father who fails to provide financial support for his children, especially one who avoids court-ordered child support payments.
The term carries strong moral judgment—deadbeat implies willful neglect rather than inability to pay.
Her deadbeat dad hasn't sent a check in three years.
The parallel deadbeat mom exists but is far less common.
Lacking sense of duty
- deadbeatPerson avoiding owed payments
- shirkerOne who avoids duty
- slackerIdle responsibility evader
- freeloaderOne exploiting others' generosity
good-for-nothing · ne'er-do-well · absent father · dodger · evader · deserter · walkaway · sperm donor
Mandated parental financial contribution
- arrearsOverdue financial obligations
- back paymentsFunds owed retroactively
- wage garnishmentForced paycheck withholding for debt
- enforcementCompelling compliance with rules
delinquency · income withholding · financial responsibility · support order · unpaid · obligation · court order · collection agency
Protective care or control
- visitationOfficial or formal visit
- paternityMale parent status
- family courtTribunal for household legal matters
- custodial parentParent children reside with
noncustodial parent · visitation rights · parenting plan · domestic relations · child custody · paternity suit · court-ordered · legal obligation
Failing to care properly
- uninvolvedNot taking part
- disengagedNot participating or invested
- absentNot in attendance
- estrangedSeparated by emotional distance
abandonment · disappeared · vanished · missing · unreachable · ghosting · walkout · desertion
irresponsible
Lacking sense of duty
freeloader · good-for-nothing · ne'er-do-well · absent father · dodger · evader · deserter · walkaway · sperm donor · baby daddy
child support
Mandated parental financial contribution
- arrearsOverdue financial obligations
- back paymentsFunds owed retroactively
- wage garnishmentForced paycheck withholding for debt
enforcement · delinquency · income withholding · financial responsibility · support order · unpaid · obligation · court order · collection agency · modification
custody
Protective care or control
- visitationOfficial or formal visit
- paternityMale parent status
- family courtTribunal for household legal matters
custodial parent · noncustodial parent · visitation rights · parenting plan · domestic relations · child custody · paternity suit · court-ordered · legal obligation · enforcement agency
neglectful
Failing to care properly
- uninvolvedNot taking part
- disengagedNot participating or invested
- absentNot in attendance
estranged · abandonment · disappeared · vanished · missing · unreachable · ghosting · walkout · desertion · fled
- fatherhooddad, daddy, papa, father, pa
- male typesalpha male, beta male, sigma male, macho man, nice guy
- parenting stereotypeshelicopter mom, soccer mom, tiger mom, helicopter parent, stage mom
- social typesnormie, jock, hippie, goth, diva
- Dad typesbumbling dad, single dad, stepdad, sports dad, new dad
- family lossorphan, motherless, fatherless, parentless, abandonment
deadbeat dadbreadwinner
Primary household earner
family man · provider · stay-at-home dad · co-parent · custodial parent
dead, beat, deader, deadest, deadly, deaden, deadened, deadening, deadness