idiot noun
id·i·ot | \ ˈi-dē-ət \
Definition of idiot
1 : a foolish or stupid person
2 dated, now offensive : a person affected with extreme mental retardation
airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, bonehead, bubblehead, chowderhead, chucklehead, clodpoll (or clodpole), clot [British], cluck, clunk, cretin, cuddy (or cuddie) [British dialect], deadhead, dim bulb [slang], dimwit, dip, dodo, dolt, donkey, doofus [slang], dope, dork [slang], dullard, dumbbell, dumbhead, dum-dum, dummkopf, dummy, dunce, dunderhead, fathead, gander, golem, goof, goon, half-wit, hammerhead, hardhead, ignoramus, imbecile, jackass, know-nothing, knucklehead, lamebrain, loggerhead [chiefly dialect], loon, lump, lunkhead, meathead, mome [archaic], moron, mug [chiefly British], mutt, natural, nimrod [slang], nincompoop, ninny, ninnyhammer, nit [chiefly British], nitwit, noddy, noodle, numskull (or numbskull), oaf, pinhead, prat [British], ratbag [chiefly Australian], saphead, schlub (also shlub) [slang], schnook [slang], simpleton, stock, stupe, stupid, thickhead, turkey, woodenhead, yahoo, yo-yo
The Greek adjective idios means “one’s own” or “private.” The derivative noun idiōtēs means “private person.” A Greek idiōtēs was a person who was not in the public eye, who held no public office. From this came the sense “common man,” and later “ignorant person”—a natural extension, for the common people of ancient Greece were not, in general, particularly learned. The English idiot originally meant “ignorant person,” but the more usual reference now is to a person who lacks basic intelligence or common sense rather than education.
History and Etymology for idiot
Middle English, from Anglo-French ydiote, from Latin idiota ignorant person, from Greek idiōtēs one in a private station, layman, ignorant person, from idios one's own, private; akin to Latin suus one's own — more at SUICIDE
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The Clinical History of 'Moron,' 'Idiot,' and 'Imbecile'
The words have less-than-savory past
Dictionary Entries near idiot
idiorrhythmism
Idiosepiidae
idiosyncrasy
idiot
idiot's delight
idiot board
idiot box
idiot noun
English Language Learners Definition of idiot
: a very stupid or foolish person
idiot noun
id·i·ot | \ ˈi-dē-ət \
Kids Definition of idiot
: a silly or foolish person
idiot noun
id·i·ot | \ ˈid-ē-ət \
Medical Definition of idiot
dated, now offensive
: a person affected with extreme mental retardation
Other Words from idiot
idiot adjective, dated, now offensive
idiot noun
id·i·ot | \ ˈi-dē-ət \
Legal Definition of idiot
: a person with especially a profound intellectual disability
NOTE: While the terms idiot, imbecile, and moron survive in many state codes and statutes, they are generally no longer used in both medical and legal contexts. The modern terminology distinguishes between mild, moderate, severe, and profound levels of disability. Historically persons with intellectual disabilities have been deprived of certain rights (as in not being allowed to vote). Generally today, an adult with an intellectual disability who is his or her own guardian is not deprived of these rights.