adjective
-
lacking vitality and purpose
-
lazy or idle, esp in a dreamy way
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lackadaisical
First recorded in 1760–70; lackadais(y) (variant of lackaday ) + -ical
Explanation
Even though lackadaisical sounds like it has something to do with a shortage of daisies, know that what it really means is lacking in spirit or liveliness. A person with a lackadaisical attitude shows no enthusiasm and puts forth a half-hearted effort. But it's more of a dreamy, laid back approach rather than sheer laziness. This funny-sounding adjective came about in the 18th century from the interjection lackaday, which was an old-fashioned way of saying "oh man!" or "unfortunately."
Vocabulary lists containing lackadaisical
The Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "J," "K," and "L"
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Languor Management: Synonyms for "Lazy"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
What actually stood out was Smith’s lackadaisical performance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026
He himself gave lackadaisical remarks on the convention’s first night—alongside everything else, Paxton is also an unenthusiastic public speaker—to an indifferent crowd.
From Slate ● Sep. 21, 2026
Meyer Levinson-Blount’s “Butcher’s Stain,” centered on a flimsy accusation against a friendly Palestinian butcher in an Israeli market, undercuts its gripping story with lackadaisical filmmaking and an unnecessary subplot, but lead Omar Sameer is commanding.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 20, 2026
The Bronx rapper, celebrated for her sweet, lackadaisical flow, will drop her first full-length album on July 26.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 5, 2024
Kerling didn't like Dasch's lackadaisical attitude toward their studies, and he hounded Dasch about learning the formulas.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
