idiot

[id-ee-uht]

noun

1. Informal.,  an utterly foolish or senseless person.

   If you think you can wear that outfit to a job interview and get hired, you're an idiot!

   Synonyms: numbskull, dunce, dolt, imbecile, half-wit, fool

2. Psychology.,  (no longer in technical use; considered offensive) a person of the lowest order in a former and discarded classification of intellectual disability, having a mental age of less than three years old and an intelligence quotient under 25.

idiot

/ ˈɪdɪət /

noun

1. a person with severe mental retardation

2. a foolish or senseless person

Other Word Forms

• idiotic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of idiot¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Latin idiōta, from Greek idiṓtēs “private person, layman, person lacking skill or expertise,” equivalent to idiō- (lengthened variant of idio- idio-, perhaps by analogy with stratiōtēs “professional soldier,” derivative of stratiá “army”) + -tēs agent noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of idiot¹

C13: from Latin idiōta ignorant person, from Greek idiōtēs private person, one who lacks professional knowledge, ignoramus; see _idio-

Example Sentences

“Every night is like a fistfight in there, and people think you’re an idiot,” he said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A Singapore minister says he "should have been more respectful" after calling Hong Kong football players and fans "idiots" following a decisive 2027 Asian Cup qualifier.

Read more on Barron's

But now, thanks to this idiot tutor and a book of mediocre poetry, he knew exactly where to look.

Read more on Literature

Michael’s feelings would have been hurt, but Beejee was such an idiot that Michael didn’t care much about the doll comment.

Read more on Literature

But when I look back now, I am an idiot.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• fool 
• moron 
• nitwit 
• twit