What does skiver mean?
Skiver is chiefly a British informal noun for a person who dodges work, duties, or responsibilities. Calling someone a skiver is generally disparaging, though the word can be used humorously among colleagues or friends: it suggests not merely an occasional lack of effort but a habitual tendency to let others carry the burden. The word also has a technical meaning in leatherworking, where a skiver is a tool used to shave a thin layer from leather. Older British slang could use skiver for a swindler or dishonest person. As a verb, to skiver means to avoid or shirk one's work or responsibilities and is especially associated with British informal speech. In American English, the personal-noun sense is understood but noticeably less common than in Britain. Skiver is useful because it concentrates the idea of deliberate, irresponsible avoidance into one vivid word, while its surprising technical meaning gives the term a second life outside ordinary workplace criticism.
A person who avoids or shirks work, duties, or responsibilities. The word can also denote a tool used to shave leather and, in older slang, a swindler.
"Our new colleague has the reputation of being a skiver, so the manager divides the work carefully."
The personal sense is informal, chiefly British, and mildly to strongly disparaging. The leatherworking sense is technical and neutral.
To avoid or shirk work, duties, or responsibilities.
"He skivers whenever the most difficult part of the job comes around."
Informal and chiefly British; typically implies deliberate avoidance of an obligation.
The standard plural of the personal noun is skivers.
"The supervisor knew the skivers were leaving before the busiest hours."
A skiver can accuse someone of dodging work—or, in leatherworking, help you shave a piece of leather beautifully.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does skiver come from?
The word is recorded in British slang by the late nineteenth century, initially for a swindler and later for someone who avoided work; the precise source of the slang word is uncertain. The technical sense derives from leather skiving, the process of shaving a thin layer from leather to make it thinner or more pliable.
Related word forms
How skiver is actually used
The personal-noun and verb senses are informal and generally disparaging, although they may be used playfully among friends or coworkers. They are much more characteristic of British English than American English. In leatherworking, the noun is a neutral technical term.
Easily confused with skiver
To skive means to avoid or shirk duties, whereas a skiver is chiefly the noun naming the person who does so.