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idiot

noun
id·​i·​ot | \ ˈi-dē-ət How to pronounce idiot (audio) \

Definition of idiot

1 : a foolish or stupid person
2 dated, now offensive : a person affected with extreme mental retardation
Other Words from idiot Synonyms & Antonyms Idiot Has Greek Roots Example Sentences Learn More about idiot

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Other Words from idiot

idiot adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms for idiot

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

brain, genius

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Idiot Has Greek Roots

The Greek adjective idios means “one’s own” or “private.” The derivative noun idiƍtēs means “private person.” A Greek idiƍtēs 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.

Examples of idiot in a Sentence

Don't be such an idiot! only an idiot would invest in a company just because a casual acquaintance recommended it

First Known Use of idiot

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

History and Etymology for idiot

Middle English, from Anglo-French ydiote, from Latin idiota ignorant person, from Greek idiƍtēs 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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More Definitions for idiot

idiot

noun
How to pronounce idiot (audio)

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