DictionaryAI

idiot

I-dee-uht/ˈɪdiət/

Pluralidiots

3 meanings of idiot

Practice

  1. 1
    foolnouncountable
    A very stupid person, or someone who does something very silly.

    Only an idiot would leave the front door unlocked overnight.

    He felt like an idiot after locking his keys inside the car.

    UsageNot a very strong insult. Friends often say you idiot as a joke.

    Similarfool, moron, imbecile, halfwit, dope

    Oppositegenius

    Note
  2. 2
    foolishadjectivecolloquial
    Very silly or foolish.

    That was an idiot idea, and everyone knew it would fail.

    Stop making idiot excuses and just say you are sorry.

    UsagePut it before a noun: an idiot idea.

    Similarstupid, foolish, dumb, harebrained, moronic

    Oppositeclever, sensible, smart, brilliant

  3. 3
    lowest IQnounoffensiveobsolete
    In old medical use, a person thought to have the very lowest level of intelligence.
    It is an offence for a man to have unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman whom he knows to be an idiot or imbecile.
    1956, Parliament of the United Kingdom, Sexual Offences Act 1956Here, idiot is an old medical term for a person with very severe mental disability.
    Idiots were thought to be peculiarly under the care of the Deity, and it was believed that those who treated them kindly would be blessed.
    1896, Clifton Johnson, “Folks”Here, Idiots is an old term for people with very severe mental disability.
    Note

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Origin

It comes from Greek 'idiotes', meaning a private citizen or someone with no special knowledge. This passed through Latin and Old French into English.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts