noun
cretin
KREH-tihn
noun
1
An insulting term for a stupid or foolish person.
"Only a cretin would sign a contract without reading it."
How to Use Cretin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA rude word for someone acting foolishly.
When to use it
Offensive; historically used as a medical term for a condition caused by congenital hypothyroidism, a usage now considered outdated and derogatory.
Word Forms
cretins plural
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Etymology
From French crétin, ultimately from a dialectal Alpine form of "chrétien" ("Christian"), once used sympathetically of poor or vulnerable people before the word narrowed and turned into an insult.