Dictionary.com
definitions

lackadaisical

[ lak-uh-dey-zi-kuhl ]
/ ˌlæk əˈdeɪ zɪ kəl /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR lackadaisical ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

without interest, vigor, or determination; listless; lethargic: a lackadaisical attempt.
lazy; indolent: a lackadaisical fellow.

RELATED WORDS

indifferently, carelessly, coolly, informally, offhandedly, reservedly

Nearby words

  1. lachute,
  2. lacing,
  3. lacinia,
  4. laciniate,
  5. lack,
  6. lackaday,
  7. lackawanna,
  8. lacker,
  9. lackey,
  10. lackey moth

Origin of lackadaisical

1760–70; lackadais(y) (variant of lackaday) + -ical
Related formslack·a·dai·si·cal·ly, adverblack·a·dai·si·cal·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for lackadaisically

  • But everything had not gone well, and he found it very difficult to carry himself otherwise than lackadaisically.

    The Small House at Allington|Anthony Trollope
British Dictionary definitions for lackadaisically

lackadaisical

/ (ˌlækəˈdeɪzɪkəl) /

adjective

lacking vitality and purpose
lazy or idle, esp in a dreamy way
Derived Formslackadaisically, adverblackadaisicalness, noun

Word Origin for lackadaisical

C18: from earlier lackadaisy, extended form of lackaday
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for lackadaisically

lackadaisical

adj.

1768 (Sterne), from interjection lackadaisy "alas, alack" (1748), an alteration of lack-a-day (1690s), from alack the day (1590s). Hence, "given to crying 'lack-a-day,' vapidly sentimental." Sense probably altered by influence of lax. Related: Lackadaisically.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper