lazy
LAY-zee
Lazy (adj) means unwilling to work or make an effort; disinclined to exertion. Example: “Don't be so lazy; get up and help me wash the dishes.”
adj
1
Unwilling to work or make an effort; disinclined to exertion.
"Don't be so lazy; get up and help me wash the dishes."
"He was too lazy to walk to the shop for milk."
"It was a lazy Sunday spent watching movies on the sofa."
2
Slow-moving or relaxed rather than active.
"The cat gave a lazy stretch and went back to sleep in the sun."
"We spent a lazy afternoon by the pool, barely moving at all."
"The river made a lazy loop through the valley."
How to use lazy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAvoiding work or effort, or moving in a slow, relaxed way.
Common pairings
lazy afternoon
lazy Sunday
feeling lazy
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Word forms
- Plural
- lazies
- Third person singular
- lazies
- Past tense
- lazied
- Comparative
- lazier
- Superlative
- laziest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Don't be so _____; get up and help me wash the dishes.
Etymology
Attested since the 1500s; probably from Low German lasich, "slack, feeble," though the exact origin is debated.
Class of 1500
lazy joined the language around 1500.
See the full Class of 1500 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for lazy
See all rhymes for lazy →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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