- failure, loser, nonstarter, unsuccessful person - a person with a record of failing; someone who loses consistently
--1 is a kind of unfortunate, unfortunate person
--1 has particulars:bankrupt, insolvent; flash in the pan; flop, dud, washout; underdog - nonstarter - a horse that fails to run in a race for which it has been entered
--2 is a kind of racehorse, race horse, bangtail