idiot

American  

[id-ee-uht] / ˈɪd i ət /

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.

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idiot British  

/ ˈɪdɪət /

noun

1. a person with severe mental retardation

2. a foolish or senseless person

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Other Word Forms

• idiotic adjective

Etymology

Origin of idiot

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

Example Sentences

“Sac City is making us look like idiots,” he said while buying gas in the convenience store sporting one of Bradshaw’s flowers.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From 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.

From Barron's

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

From BBC

I feel like I’m still learning how to promote my music because I know how to get on the internet and be an idiot all day.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fool
• moron
• nitwit
• twit