noun
idiot
IH-dee-uht
noun
1
A foolish or stupid person, or someone who makes a very poor decision.
"Only an idiot would leave the front door unlocked all night."
"He felt like an idiot after sending the email to the wrong client."
How to Use Idiot
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA strongly informal, often insulting word for someone acting foolishly.
When to use it
Considered offensive when used clinically about intellectual disability; today it's almost always just a casual insult.
Common pairings
act like an idiot
total idiot
feel like an idiot
Word Forms
more idiot comparative, idiots plural, IDiots plural, most idiot superlative
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Only an _____ would leave the front door unlocked all night.
Etymology
From Greek idiotes, originally meaning an ordinary private citizen with no special skill or office, later narrowing to mean an ignorant or foolish person.