idiotic
Americanadjective
-
of, relating to, or characteristic of an idiot.
-
senselessly foolish or stupid.
an idiotic remark.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of idiotic
1705–15; < Late Latin idiōticus < Greek idiōtikós private, ignorant. See idiot, -ic
Explanation
Something that's idiotic is very, very stupid. It would be idiotic to turn down your lottery winnings because you're too lazy to go claim them. An idiotic song is boring, repetitive and has ridiculous lyrics, and an idiotic TV show is badly written and terribly acted. Your dad might describe his dog as idiotic if she manages to find a skunk every single time she goes outdoors. The adjective idiotic is informal, and it comes from the Latin idioticus, "uneducated or ignorant," with the Greek root idiotikos, "unprofessional or unskilled."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The clip is worth watching, and not just to marvel yet again at Vance’s ability to make idiotic statements in the self-assured tone of the smartest boy in the room.
From Salon • Apr. 1, 2026
It’s likely to get louder and the topics more idiotic until someone shows a better way.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 26, 2025
I close with the special force of the idiotic idea.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 9, 2025
Whenever his team loses, whoever it is, it seems to be greeted with more glee than when most other managers lose, which is such an idiotic view.
From BBC • Sep. 18, 2025
Perhaps giving Wilcox back his wallet had been idiotic, but at least now I could stop worrying about whether I should or not.
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
