klutz
Americannoun
-
a clumsy, awkward person.
-
a stupid or foolish person; blockhead.
noun
Other Word Forms
- klutzy adjective
Etymology
Origin of klutz
1965–70, < Yiddish klots literally, wooden beam < Middle High German kloc ( German Klotz )
Explanation
If you're awkward and clumsy, you can call yourself a klutz. If a klutz is carrying a tray of full glasses across a dining room, you can be sure they'll end up on the floor. This informal word is perfect for talking about a goofy oaf who trips over his own feet and seems to drop anything he's holding. You might say, "Don't let my brother move your TV — he's such a klutz!" Klutz is the Americanized version of the Yiddish klots, which means "block or lump," and also "clumsy person or blockhead." A related word in German is klotz, "boor, clod, or wooden block."
Vocabulary lists containing klutz
Awkward Moments
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
More English Words Derived from Yiddish
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Whoops! Synonyms for "Clumsy"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Yiddish, the language spoken by Ashkenazi Jews across Europe before the Holocaust, is now perhaps best known to many English speakers through words such as "schlep", "klutz" and "chutzpah".
From Barron's • Oct. 26, 2025
As for durability, I’ve never broken an Apple Watch before — and I’m a klutz.
From The Verge • Aug. 31, 2022
Her Zoey is a bit of a klutz, a bit of a goof, a little tight, a little timid and, like Rob in “High Fidelity,” a veteran of failed relationships.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2020
In the first excerpt, Tate—the real Tate, not Robbie’s—is a bespectacled klutz, tripping over Dean Martin’s luggage as he checks into a hotel.
From Slate • Aug. 2, 2019
His voice held a little of the old doubt and awkwardness—the voice of her Frank, who always worried about being a klutz and messing up.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
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.
