Shiftless \Shift"less\, a. Destitute of expedients, or not using successful expedients; characterized by failure, especially by failure to provide for one's own support, through negligence or incapacity; hence, lazy; improvident; thriftless; as, a shiftless fellow; shiftless management. -- {Shift"less*ly}, adv. -- {Shift"less*ness}, n. [1913 Webster]