What does "idiot" mean?
A person of low general intelligence.
Idiot
/ˈɪd͡ʒət/ adj, noun, slang
adj, noun, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A person of low general intelligence.
- Grammar: idiot is listed as adj, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: moron, blockhead, cretin, dunce.
- Useful contrasts: smartest, wise, brain.
- Usage evidence: Thanks for having explained to me at last why people take me for an idiot.
How to use "idiot"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "idiot" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "idiot" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "idiot" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "idiot" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "idiot" is acting as adj, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "moron" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "idiot", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A person of low general intelligence. derogatory
"Only an idiot would fail this exam."
- 2 A proponent of intelligent design. derogatory, slang
"In his moronic book, _The Design Revolution: Answering the Toughest Questions about Intelligent Design_ (2004), 334pp., the IDiot William Dembski writes on page 305 about how a fellow IDiot was fired from a research position at a "prestigious molecular biology laboratory" the very same day a press story appeared exposing this character as being an IDiot."
- 3 a person of subnormal intelligence wordnet
- 4 A person who makes stupid decisions; a fool. derogatory
"He thought people who don't like cricket are idiots. He later got into fights with people who like football."
- 5 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. obsolete
"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."
Adjective
- 1 Idiotic, stupid. uncommon
Example
"Thanks for having explained to me at last why people take me for an idiot."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "idiot"?
Common synonyms include: moron, blockhead, cretin, dunce, fool, imbecile.
How do you use "idiot" in a sentence?
Thanks for having explained to me at last why people take me for an idiot.
How do you pronounce "idiot"?
Pronounced /ˈɪd͡ʒət/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
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.
Etymology 2
Blend of ID (“intelligent design”) + idiot.