idiot
[ id-ee-uht ]
/ ˈɪd i ət /
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
Related formsid·i·ot·ic, adjective
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for idiot
British Dictionary definitions for idiot
idiot
/ (ˈɪdɪət) /
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
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Word Origin and History for idiot
idiot
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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.
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