adj A1 Beginner Common

lazy

LAY-zee

Lazy (adj) means unwilling to work or make an effort; disinclined to exertion. Example: “He was too lazy to walk to the shop for milk.”

adj

Unwilling to work or make an effort; disinclined to exertion.

"He was too lazy to walk to the shop for milk."

"It was a lazy Sunday spent watching movies on the sofa."

Slow-moving or relaxed rather than active.

"The river made a lazy loop through the valley."

How to use lazy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAvoiding work or effort, or moving in a slow, relaxed way.

Common pairings

lazy afternoon lazy Sunday feeling lazy

Word forms

lazier comparative, lazied past tense, lazies plural, lazies singular, laziest superlative

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He was too _____ to walk to the shop for milk.

Etymology

Attested since the 1500s; probably from Low German lasich, "slack, feeble," though the exact origin is debated.

Origin: German · First attested 1500

Class of 1500 lazy joined the language around 1500.

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Synonyms

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idle indolent slothful work-shy shiftless languid fainéant inert lackadaisical lither otiose sluggish

Antonyms

active diligent industrious

Related words

act dead active fit slow industrial weak boring

Rhymes for lazy

hazy crazy sleazy

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Frequently asked questions

What does “lazy” mean?

The word “lazy” means unwilling to work or make an effort; disinclined to exertion. In plain terms, avoiding work or effort, or moving in a slow, relaxed way.

How do you pronounce “lazy”?

“Lazy” is pronounced LAY-zee (/ˈleɪ̯zi(ː)/ in IPA).

How do you use “lazy” in a sentence?

Here is “lazy” used in a sentence: “He was too lazy to walk to the shop for milk.”

What is another word for “lazy”?

Words with a similar meaning to “lazy” include fainéant, inert, lackadaisical, lither, otiose and sluggish.

What is the opposite of “lazy”?

The opposite of “lazy” — its antonyms — are active, diligent and industrious.

What part of speech is “lazy”?

“Lazy” is an adjective.

Where does the word “lazy” come from?

The word “lazy” dates back to around 1500 and comes from German. Attested since the 1500s; probably from Low German lasich, "slack, feeble," though the exact origin is debated.

Is “lazy” a common word?

“Lazy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

What is the difference between "lazy" and "idle"?

Lazy describes an unwillingness to work or make an effort and carries a critical, judgmental tone. Idle simply means not currently active or in use, so someone can be idle by circumstance but lazy by choice.

Is calling someone "lazy" an insult?

In its main sense, yes. Describing a person as lazy suggests they are unwilling to work or avoid effort, which is generally negative. The milder sense meaning slow-moving or relaxed, as in "a lazy afternoon," is not critical.

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