idiocy

American  

[id-ee-uh-see] / ˈɪd i ə si /

noun

plural

idiocies

1. utterly senseless or foolish behavior; a stupid or foolish act, statement, etc..

   All this talk of zombies coming to attack us is pure idiocy.

   Synonyms:

   folly, inanity, foolishness

2. Psychology. (no longer in technical use; considered offensive) an intellectual disability, previously classified in a now obsolete rubric of developmental disorders as having a mental age of less than three years old and an intelligence quotient under 25.

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idiocy British  

/ ˈɪdɪəsɪ /

noun

1. (not in technical usage) severe mental retardation

2. foolishness or senselessness; stupidity

3. a foolish act or remark

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Etymology

Origin of idiocy

First recorded in 1520–30; from Medieval Latin idiotia “imbecility,” from Hellenistic Greek idiōteía “uncouthness, ignorance,” Greek “state of being a private person”; idiot, -cy

Example Sentences

Hubler could make hundreds of millions facilitating the idiocy of Morgan Stanley’s customers.

From Literature

A few days later I saw a friend who knows his foreign affairs and he said, “Do you believe the idiocy of this guy?”

From The Wall Street Journal

She must navigate the idiocy of her high school peers while solving a metaphysical murder mystery.

From Los Angeles Times

Utter asininity is the bread and butter of “The Naked Gun,” and the movie milks cop idiocy for all its worth.

From Salon

Aside from the idiocy of the move itself, one of the most egregious screw-ups on that chat was the efense secretary sharing imminent war plans.

From Salon

Related Words

• insanity
• lunacy
• madness