adjective
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lacking vitality and purpose
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lazy or idle, esp in a dreamy way
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lackadaisical
First recorded in 1760–70; lackadais(y) (variant of lackaday ) + -ical
Explanation
Even though lackadaisical sounds like it has something to do with a shortage of daisies, know that what it really means is lacking in spirit or liveliness. A person with a lackadaisical attitude shows no enthusiasm and puts forth a half-hearted effort. But it's more of a dreamy, laid back approach rather than sheer laziness. This funny-sounding adjective came about in the 18th century from the interjection lackaday, which was an old-fashioned way of saying "oh man!" or "unfortunately."
Vocabulary lists containing lackadaisical
The Lazy, Hazy Days of Summer
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "J," "K," and "L"
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Languor Management: Synonyms for "Lazy"
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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.
Meyer Levinson-Blount’s “Butcher’s Stain,” centered on a flimsy accusation against a friendly Palestinian butcher in an Israeli market, undercuts its gripping story with lackadaisical filmmaking and an unnecessary subplot, but lead Omar Sameer is commanding.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026
Eleven months of the year, I’m a lackadaisical baker, dabbling in one-bowl cakes and easy-like-Sunday-morning muffins.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025
She said: "I'm beyond fed up with this lackadaisical approach to gender care. They are failing children and young people."
From BBC • Apr. 23, 2024
“We got lackadaisical, we got careless with the ball and started to be not so aggressive,” DeRozan said.
From Seattle Times • Mar. 18, 2024
Anatole got to spend his days playing bottle-cap checkers with a pair of lackadaisical guards, who let him read and write anything as long as he didn’t escape.
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
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.
