Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *swé
Proto-Indo-European *swéd-yo-s
Proto-Hellenic *hwédios
Ancient Greek ἴδιος (ídios)
Ancient Greek -ώτης (-ṓtēs)
Ancient Greek ἰδιώτης (idiṓtēs)
Latin idiotabor.
Old French idiotebor.
Middle English ydiote
English idiot
From Middle English idiote, ydiote, from Old French idiote (later idiot), from Latin idiota, from Ancient Greek ἰδιώτης (idiṓtēs, “a private citizen, one who has no professional knowledge, layman”), from ἴδιος (ídios, “one's own, pertaining to oneself, private”). Doublet of idiota. By surface analysis, idi- + -ot.
Meanings
(uncommon) Idiotic, stupid.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
idget
alternative, indicating the pronunciation /ˈɪd͡ʒət/, nonstandard
lexicographic
most idiot
Degree=Sup
lexicographic
eejit
Ireland, Scotland, alternative, nonstandard
lexicographic
more idiot
Degree=Cmp
lexicographic
idjit
alternative, indicating the pronunciation /ˈɪd͡ʒət/, nonstandard
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *swé
Proto-Indo-European *swéd-yo-s
Proto-Hellenic *hwédios
Ancient Greek ἴδιος (ídios)
Ancient Greek -ώτης (-ṓtēs)
Ancient Greek ἰδιώτης (idiṓtēs)
Latin idiotabor.
Old French idiotebor.
Middle English ydiote
English idiot
From Middle English idiote, ydiote, from Old French idiote (later idiot), from Latin idiota, from Ancient Greek ἰδιώτης (idiṓtēs, “a private citizen, one who has no professional knowledge, layman”), from ἴδιος (ídios, “one's own, pertaining to oneself, private”). Doublet of idiota. By surface analysis, idi- + -ot.
Meanings
(derogatory) A person of low general intelligence.
After failing a hat-trick of exams, the teacher called him an idiot.
Only an idiot would fail this exam.
(derogatory) A person who makes stupid decisions; a fool.
“One of the things that you write so beautifully, and your stuff is so fun to read, but you write about Trump, quote, ‘The way that you build a truly vicious nationalist movement is to wed a relatively small core of belligerent idiots to a much larger group of opportunists and spineless fellow travelers whose primary function is to turn a blind eye to things,’” Kennedy said, reading Taibbi’s own writing back to him. 2024 November 21, Andrew Kaczynski, “RFK Jr. compared Trump to Hitler and praised descriptions of his supporters as ‘Nazis’”, in CNN:
We think that people who cycle without a helmet are idiots.
“He’s an idiot – in terms of saying that. Everybody knows this. Everybody knows it. Nobody doubts it,” Biden said. 2019 October 28, Devan Cole, “Biden calls Trump an ‘idiot’ for dismissing Russian election interference”, in CNN:
He thought people who don't like cricket are idiots. He later got into fights with people who like football.
(obsolete) A person of the lowest intellectual standing, a person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal four-year-old; a person with an IQ below 30.
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, “Part I, section 7”, in Sexual Offences Act 1956, page 2:
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”, in What They Say in New England (non-fiction), Boston, Massachusetts, United States: Lee and Shepard Publishers, page 105:
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
idiots
Number=Plur
lexicographic
eejit
Ireland, Scotland, alternative, nonstandard
lexicographic
idjit
alternative, indicating the pronunciation /ˈɪd͡ʒət/, nonstandard
lexicographic
idget
alternative, indicating the pronunciation /ˈɪd͡ʒət/, nonstandard
ur اَحْمَق (person of low general intelligence) · sq idiot (person of low general intelligence) · hy հիմար (person of low general intelligence) · is hálviti (person of low general intelligence) · bg ахма́к (person of low general intelligence) · lv duraks (person of low general intelligence) · hi उल्लू (person of low general intelligence) · bg абда́л (person of low general intelligence) · de dumme Gans (person of low general intelligence) · acw غَبي (person of low general intelligence) · pt idiota (person of low general intelligence) · ru глупе́ц (person of low general intelligence) · et lollpea (person of low general intelligence) · ru дура́к (person of low general intelligence) · mk абдал (person of low general intelligence) · hi मूर्ख (person of low general intelligence) · cmn 傻瓜 (person of low general intelligence) · la blennus (person of low general intelligence) · hy էշ (person of low general intelligence) · sv idiot (person of low general intelligence) · gl pallouco (person of low general intelligence) · th โง่ (person of low general intelligence) · cmn 蠢材 (person of low general intelligence) · ang unwita (person of low general intelligence) · th คนบ้า (person of low general intelligence) · eu ergel (person of low general intelligence) · de Närrin (person of low general intelligence) · gl miñoto (person of low general intelligence) · el μικρόνους (person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal four-year-old) · enm sot (person of low general intelligence) · hu hülye (person of low general intelligence) · km ល្ងីល្ងើ (person of low general intelligence) · sv narr (person of low general intelligence) · ta முட்டாள் (person of low general intelligence) · fa-ira اَبْلَهْ (person of low general intelligence) · fa-ira اَحْمَق (person of low general intelligence) · ro idioate (person of low general intelligence) · ar غَبِيّ (person of low general intelligence) · sa निर्बुद्धि (person of low general intelligence) · gl láparo (person of low general intelligence) · bg глупа́к (person of low general intelligence) · ga dúramán (person of low general intelligence) · yi אידיאָט (person of low general intelligence) · pl głupek (person of low general intelligence) · gl paspán (person of low general intelligence) · sq gomar (person of low general intelligence) · vi thằng ngu (person of low general intelligence) · hi अहमक़ (person of low general intelligence) · ja 白痴 (person of low general intelligence) · bg идио́т (person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal four-year-old) · ru ду́рень (person of low general intelligence) · de Idiot (person of low general intelligence) · ro idioată (person of low general intelligence) · lv idiots (person of low general intelligence) · ar مُغَفَّل (person of low general intelligence) · kk ақымақ (person of low general intelligence) · et oinas (person of low general intelligence) · lv idiote (person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal four-year-old) · fi törttö (person of low general intelligence) · hi बालबुद्धि (person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal four-year-old) · ko 바보 (person of low general intelligence) · lt kvailys (person of low general intelligence) · az abdal (person of low general intelligence) · th คนโง่ (person of low general intelligence) · yue 白痴 (person of low general intelligence) · cy ynfytyn (person of low general intelligence) · tk akmak (person of low general intelligence) · tt ахмак (person of low general intelligence) · uk дуре́па (person of low general intelligence) · gl lores (person of low general intelligence) · az əbləh (person of low general intelligence) · sk idiotka (person of low general intelligence) · sh idìotkinja (person of low general intelligence) · arz عبيط (person of low general intelligence) · pl dureń (person of low general intelligence) · be ідыёт (person of low general intelligence) · lo ໂງ່ (person of low general intelligence) · fi idiootti (person of low general intelligence) · tr geri zekâlı (person of low general intelligence) · pl idiotka (person of low general intelligence) · cmn 傻子 (person of low general intelligence) · izh tuhkapussi (person of low general intelligence) · tg аблаҳ (person of low general intelligence) · eo idioto (person of low general intelligence) · zdj ɗaɓa (person of low general intelligence) · tr salak (person of low general intelligence) · th ไอ้งั่ง (person of low general intelligence) · sa मूढ (person of low general intelligence) · fa-ira کالیو (person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal four-year-old) · be дурні́ца (person of low general intelligence) · is skynskiptingur (person of low general intelligence) · grc βλάξ (person of low general intelligence) · mn эргүү тэнэг (person of low general intelligence) · pa ਮੂਰਖ (person of low general intelligence) · hi अहमक (person of low general intelligence) · ko 등신 (person of low general intelligence) · th ควาย (person of low general intelligence) · tr aptal (person of low general intelligence) · fa-ira خِنْگ (person of low general intelligence) · hu idióta (person of low general intelligence) · kk идиот (person of low general intelligence) · it idiota (person of low general intelligence) · gu મૂર્ખ (person of low general intelligence) · mi rorirori (person of low general intelligence) · vo jidiotan (person of low general intelligence) · lld musciat (person of low general intelligence) · bg идио́т (person of low general intelligence) · sa मूर्ख (person of low general intelligence) · sk idiot (person of low general intelligence) · ny chitsiru (person of low general intelligence) · pdt Dommajon (person of low general intelligence) · ar أَبْلَه (person of low general intelligence) · cy twpsyn (person of low general intelligence) · ar أَحْمَق (person of low general intelligence) · el ιδιώτης (person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal four-year-old) · sw kichwamaji (person of low general intelligence) · acw أهْبَل (person of low general intelligence) · tl bobo (person of low general intelligence) · ru идио́т (person of low general intelligence) · ka ახმახი (person of low general intelligence) · vi thằng ngốc (person of low general intelligence) · lv muļķis (person of low general intelligence) · uz idiot (person of low general intelligence) · ro idiot (person of low general intelligence) · ta அறிவிலி (person of low general intelligence) · nl idioot (person of low general intelligence) · az idiot (person of low general intelligence) · fi pöljä (person of low general intelligence) · tl tanga (person of low general intelligence) · mn тэнэг (person of low general intelligence) · fr crétine (person of low general intelligence) · fy idioat (person of low general intelligence) · sq budalla (person of low general intelligence) · fi typerys (person of low general intelligence) · ug ئەخمەق (person of low general intelligence) · mk идио́т (person of low general intelligence) · izh oolo (person of low general intelligence) · lv muļķe (person of low general intelligence) · pl głupiec (person of low general intelligence) · hi बेवक़ूफ़ (person of low general intelligence) · lt durnius (person of low general intelligence) · lt avigalvis (person of low general intelligence) · nl nar (person of low general intelligence) · gl parvo (person of low general intelligence) · ur بے وُقُوف (person of low general intelligence) · ko 백치 (person of low general intelligence) · tr avanak (person of low general intelligence) · sl idiot (person of low general intelligence) · hy ապուշ (person of low general intelligence) · izh tuhkuri (person of low general intelligence) · lld totl (person of low general intelligence) · izh vohma (person of low general intelligence) · mh bōkāro (person of low general intelligence) · ur بُدُّھو (person of low general intelligence) · tl ungas (person of low general intelligence) · da idiot (person of low general intelligence) · th คนปัญญาอ่อน (person of low general intelligence) · izh tuhkapää (person of low general intelligence) · yi שוטה (person of low general intelligence) · ta லூசு (person of low general intelligence) · cmn 蠢貨 /蠢货 (person of low general intelligence) · ur بیوَقُوف (person of low general intelligence) · ko 멍청이 (person of low general intelligence) · ga amadán (person of low general intelligence) · uz ablah (person of low general intelligence) · ja 馬鹿 (person of low general intelligence) · uk ідіо́тка (person of low general intelligence) · mk идио́тка (person of low general intelligence) · gl mouco (person of low general intelligence) · es idiota (person of low general intelligence) · ru идио́тка (person of low general intelligence) · fr bouffonne (person of low general intelligence) · gl babiolo (person of low general intelligence) · th คนโง่เง่า (person of low general intelligence) · fr imbécile (person of low general intelligence) · gu મૂઢ (person of low general intelligence) · sh идѝоткиња (person of low general intelligence) · ar عَبِيط (person of low general intelligence) · mi hukehuke (person of low general intelligence) · mi heahea (person of low general intelligence) · az axmaq (person of low general intelligence) · de Dummkopf (person of low general intelligence) · gl bouto (person of low general intelligence) · el βλάκας (person of low general intelligence) · uz ahmoq (person of low general intelligence) · gl mascato (person of low general intelligence) · eo stultulo (person of low general intelligence) · ky идиот (person of low general intelligence) · fr bouffon (person of low general intelligence) · ur گاؤدی (person of low general intelligence) · acw ْأبْلَه (person of low general intelligence) · tr andaval (person of low general intelligence) · fa-ira خِرِفْت (person of low general intelligence) · mi pōhauhau (person of low general intelligence) · nrf peûle (person of low general intelligence) · izh bolvana (person of low general intelligence) · mn зүүлэг (person of low general intelligence) · be ідыётка (person of low general intelligence) · uk ду́рень (person of low general intelligence) · nb idiot (person of low general intelligence) · bg глупа́чка (person of low general intelligence) · he גולם \ גֹּלֶם (person of low general intelligence) · ro idioți (person of low general intelligence) · fa-ira کُوْدَن (person of low general intelligence) · it squasimodeo (person of low general intelligence) · be ду́рань (person of low general intelligence) · ms bodoh (person of low general intelligence) · is asni (person of low general intelligence) · uk йо́лоп (person of low general intelligence) · ky акмак (person of low general intelligence) · sw mjinga (person of low general intelligence) · vo diotan (person of low general intelligence) · lo ຄົນບັດຊົບ (person of low general intelligence) · sl tepec (person of low general intelligence) · lv idiots (person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal four-year-old) · gl marmeco (person of low general intelligence) · de dumme Kuh (person of low general intelligence) · cmn 呆子 (person of low general intelligence) · de Narr (person of low general intelligence) · acw سَبَك (person of low general intelligence) · yi נאַר (person of low general intelligence) · nn idiot (person of low general intelligence) · nb narr (person of low general intelligence) · he שׁוֹטֶה (person of low general intelligence) · cmn 笨蛋 (person of low general intelligence) · ur اُلُّو (person of low general intelligence) · ja 戯け者 (person of low general intelligence) · yue 戇鳩 /戆鸠 (person of low general intelligence) · ur مُورْکھ (person of low general intelligence) · ka იდიოტი (person of low general intelligence) · ru ду́ра (person of low general intelligence) · gl doudo (person of low general intelligence) · uk ду́рка (person of low general intelligence) · gl babeco (person of low general intelligence) · tg аҳмақ (person of low general intelligence) · nl idioot (person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal four-year-old) · lo ຄົນໂງ່ (person of low general intelligence) · gv thoot (person of low general intelligence) · luy omsilu (person of low general intelligence) · za vunzbamz (person of low general intelligence) · la fungus (person of low general intelligence) · mi hākawa (person of low general intelligence) · bn মূর্খ (person of low general intelligence) · gd burraidh (person of low general intelligence) · cs idiot (person of low general intelligence) · el ηλίθιος (person of low general intelligence) · gl alpabarda (person of low general intelligence) · gd òinseach (person of low general intelligence) · fr idiote (person of low general intelligence) · nl domkop (person of low general intelligence) · is grasasni (person of low general intelligence) · fi hölmö (person of low general intelligence) · ml കണ്ണാപ്പി (person of low general intelligence) · bn বেক্কল (person of low general intelligence) · sip གླན་པོ (person of low general intelligence) · sa जल (person of low general intelligence) · cs idiotka (person of low general intelligence) · ca idiota (person of low general intelligence) · bcl dangag (person of low general intelligence) · cmn 白痴 (person of low general intelligence) · id bodoh (person of low general intelligence) · hu félkegyelmű (person of low general intelligence) · lt idiotė (person of low general intelligence) · pa ਬੇਵਕੂਫ਼ (person of low general intelligence) · te వెధవ (person of low general intelligence) · uk ідіо́т (person of low general intelligence) · izh hapalka (person of low general intelligence) · de Idiotin (person of low general intelligence) · lv idiote (person of low general intelligence) · he אִידְיוֹט (person of low general intelligence) · sco stookie (person of low general intelligence) · pdt Eefelt (person of low general intelligence) · ota طوی (person of low general intelligence) · nl domme gans (person of low general intelligence) · fi urpo (person of low general intelligence) · la idiota (person of low general intelligence) · da fjols (person of low general intelligence) · ml പൊട്ടൻ (person of low general intelligence) · tr ahmak (person of low general intelligence) · lt idiotas (person of low general intelligence) · vo hidiotan (person of low general intelligence) · my ဗာလ (person of low general intelligence) · gl idiota (person of low general intelligence) · izh durakka (person of low general intelligence) · pl idiota (person of low general intelligence) · sh идѝот (person of low general intelligence) · fr crétin (person of low general intelligence) · gd amadan (person of low general intelligence) · gu ડોબું (person of low general intelligence) · et idioot (person of low general intelligence) · hi बुद्धू (person of low general intelligence) · ja あほ (person of low general intelligence) · fr idiot (person of low general intelligence) · gl inteño (person of low general intelligence) · bcl patal (person of low general intelligence) · tr bön (person of low general intelligence) · bg идио́тка (person of low general intelligence) · izh foofana (person of low general intelligence) · ko 천치 (person of low general intelligence) · da nar (person of low general intelligence) · sh idìot (person of low general intelligence) · fa-ira کانا (person of low general intelligence) · arz أهبل (person of low general intelligence) · yue 死蠢 (person of low general intelligence)