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

He wrote: "This idiot needs locking up, and if he's not British, then he needs deporting afterwards."

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"I literally ran into the Co-op to get some snacks and chatted to Jen who works there and came back out again. I hadn't locked the car. I'm an idiot."

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“You guys are idiots,” Redick said when asked, laughing as he spoke.

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"There are idiots on my side of the tribe who will be provocative just as there are idiots on Michelle's side of the tribe who will try to be provocative with culture," he said.

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He said he was "worried" about the attack's impact on the area, adding: "Let's hope an idiot doesn't spoil what we've got here and we all live peacefully."

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Related Words

• fool 
• moron 
• nitwit 
• twit