cretin

American  

[kreet-in, kret-in] / ˈkrit ɪn, ˈkrɛt ɪn /

noun

• cretins
  plural

1. (no longer in technical use) a person with cretinism.

2. Informal. a very stupid or contemptible person.

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cretin British  

/ ˈkrɛtɪn /

noun

1. old-fashioned a person afflicted with cretinism

2. offensive a person considered to be extremely stupid

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• semicretin
  noun
• cretinoid
  adjective
• cretinous
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• cretins
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cretin

First recorded in 1770–80; from French crétin, originally from French Alpine dialect creitin, crestin “deformed and mentally defective dwarf” (owing to iodine deficiency in Alpine regions); further origin uncertain; perhaps from Vulgar Latin Christiānus “a Christian, human being, unfortunate person,” from Latin Christiānus Christian

Explanation

The English language has no shortage of cruel names for people, and one of them is cretin, which is what you’d call someone who is very, very dumb in the head. Back before cretin meant “a stupid person,” it was a medical term for a physical deformity that came from a specific disease. Surprisingly, the root of cretin is the Swiss French word crestin, which means “Christian.” It seems that people back then wanted to remind themselves that even though cretins look unusual, they’re still humans who deserve kindness. Knowing this makes it hard to use cretin in a mean way, but there are plenty more rude words you could use.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cretin cretins

"Why do you sacrifice your dignity for this cretin?"

From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2023

Mr. McNally originally tore into Mr. Corden, calling the comedian a “tiny cretin of a man” for two separate incidents where he was cantankerous with the wait staff.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 18, 2022

Jon Gruden is sports’ latest cretin in our midst.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 13, 2021

It has come to my attention that Playboy Germany has come out with an article in which I have called Tarantino a cretin and consider his films garbage.

From Slate ● Nov. 11, 2018

They won’t buy a television, like everyone else, because my father says it turns you into a cretin and emits harmful radiation and subliminal messages as well.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

Pragmatic, good-hearted Ava is the film’s moral center, the one disgusted enough to realize that she, her friends and Southport’s leadership are all cretins.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2025

Celebrate the spirit of Halloween with a look back at two classic movie cretins.

From New York Times ● Oct. 27, 2016

Watching them come up with the campaigns, pitching their very souls to cretins, is the pleasure last season kept holding out to the viewers, then pulling back for yet more office drama and unsatisfying death.

From Slate ● Apr. 5, 2013

In my opinion, only cretins celebrate their failures.

From Inc ● Sep. 5, 2012

I fanned my face a little faster and resisted the urge to smack these blithering cretins roundly on their hot heads.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan