Looking up...
shirk
/ʃɜːrk/
avoid responsibility
He tried to shirk his duties by delegating everything to his assistant.
He avoided doing his own work by passing it to someone else.
informal
To avoid or neglect a duty or responsibility, often by finding excuses or delegating to others.
The employee was fired for shirking his responsibilities.
The employee was dismissed for consistently avoiding his work obligations.
She couldn't shirk her parental duties, no matter how tired she was.
She had to fulfill her responsibilities as a parent, even when exhausted.
Often used in contexts where someone is avoiding work or obligations they should be handling personally.
Pro Tip
Common Usage
This word is often used in professional or personal contexts to describe someone avoiding their duties.
Word Origin
From Middle English *shirken*, possibly from Old Norse *skirka* (to shrink back) or Old English *scircan* (to shrink).
Usage Notes
Often used in negative contexts to criticize someone for not fulfilling their obligations.
English Dictionary