idleness
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of idleness
before 1000; idle ( def. ) + -ness ( def. )
Explanation
Idleness is a characteristic of being inactive. Your idleness over the summer means you really didn't do much — besides snoozing in a hammock and sipping lemonade. Anything that's not in motion has the quality of idleness, whether it's a car sitting in a parking lot with its motor running or a lazy dog lounging on the couch. This noun is often used to mean laziness, particularly when someone's not doing what they should: "His boss wasn't happy about his idleness at work." You can also use it in a more positive way: "The idleness of lying on the beach all day is my favorite thing ever."
Vocabulary lists containing idleness
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
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By the Great Horn Spoon!
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War Horse
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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.
Some blame technological advancements and deindustrialization for the increase in male idleness, but those barriers are hardly insurmountable.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026
Multiple residents warned of "idleness" among the youth, who face high unemployment.
From Barron's ● Nov. 12, 2025
Now under state ownership, productivity is low compared to competitors both in the UK and abroad, not due to idleness but because workers don't have the equipment they need to do their job efficiently.
From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2025
They contend that the women in Cassatt’s paintings could only be accused of idleness by people who are ignorant about the wearying demands of child care and housekeeping.
From New York Times ● May 16, 2024
This period of carefree idleness was due to end soon.
From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry
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.
