lifer /ˈlaɪfə(ɹ)/ noun4 •A prisoner sentenced to life in prison. •A prisoner sentenced to transportation for life.They know what a clever lad he is; he'll be a lifer. They'll make the Artful nothing less than a lifer. — 1838 •A person with a singular career path, especially in the military."[…]The Top's not a lifer; he's a career Marine. Lifers are a breed. A lifer is anybody who abuses authority he doesn't deserve to have. There are plenty of civilian lifers." — 1979 •A species seen for the first time by a birder or other naturalist who is keeping a list of all the species they have seen.We have concurred that it was clearly Problema byssus, the byssus skipper: a lifer for me. — 2010 formslifers
