idiot

[id-ee-uht]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR idiot ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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!

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

Nearby words

Origin of idiot

1250–1300; Middle English < Latin idiōta < 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

SYNONYMS FOR idiot

1. fool, half-wit; imbecile; dolt, dunce, numskull.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR idiot ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsid·i·ot·ic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for idiot

Over the next few months Davy Rothbart will be touring around America to promote his new book, My Heart Is an Idiot.
The Idiot Diaries: Davy Rothbart Launches His 79-City Book Tour|Davy Rothbart|September 18, 2012|DAILY BEAST
My Heart Is an Idiot: Essays By Davy Rothbart A young essayist is often a victim of his own open heart.
This Week’s Hot Reads: Aug. 26, 2012|Nicholas Mancusi|August 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In honor of ‘Our Idiot Brother,’ opening Friday, watch 11 dumbest movie brothers, from Fredo to Bart Simpson.
Dumb and Dumber|Marlow Stern|August 25, 2011|DAILY BEAST
(“Ooh, she looks so cute,” whispered one upon sighting Zooey Deschanel, who also stars in My Idiot Brother).
'My Idiot Brother' Star Talks Sundance's Biggest Sale|Nicole LaPorte|January 24, 2011|DAILY BEAST

Idiot Americaby Charles P. Pierce Saddle-wearing dinosaurs sparked this extended rant on the current state of affairs.
The Daily Beast Recommends|The Daily Beast|June 2, 2009|DAILY BEAST
There was silence for a minute, and then the Idiot began again.
The Idiot|John Kendrick Bangs
They were very polite to all their husbands, and said 'Idiot!'
Just So Stories|Rudyard Kipling
"That's what people said of Columbus's idea that he could discover America," said the Idiot.
The Inventions of the Idiot|John Kendrick Bangs
“Well—a receipt in full for my bill to date,” said the Idiot.
The Genial Idiot|John Kendrick Bangs
"I'd rather she'd stop flourishing and do a little writing," said the Idiot.
The Inventions of the Idiot|John Kendrick Bangs

British Dictionary definitions for idiot

idiot

noun

a person with severe mental retardation

a foolish or senseless person

Word Origin for idiot

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for idiot

idiot

early 14c., "person so mentally deficient as to be incapable of ordinary reasoning;" also in Middle English "simple man, uneducated person, layman" (late 14c.), from Old French idiote "uneducated or ignorant person" (12c.), from Latin idiota "ordinary person, layman; outsider," in Late Latin "uneducated or ignorant person," from Greek idiotes "layman, person lacking professional skill" (opposed to writer, soldier, skilled workman), literally "private person (as opposed to one taking part in public affairs)," used patronizingly for "ignorant person," from idios "one's own" (see idiom).

Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself. [Mark Twain, c.1882]

Idiot box "television set" is from 1959; idiot light "dashboard warning signal" is attested from 1968. Idiot savant attested by 1870.

Medicine definitions for idiot

idiot

[ĭd′ē-ət]

n.

A person of profound mental retardation having a mental age below three years and generally being unable to learn connected speech or guard against common dangers. The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is now considered offensive.

Related formsid′i•ot′ic (-ŏt′ĭk) adj.

idiot

noun

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Origin of idiot

Examples from the Web for idiot

idiot

noun

Word Origin for idiot

idiot

idiot

n.