noun
nitwit
NIHT-wiht
Nitwit (noun) means a foolish or scatterbrained person. Example: “Only a nitwit would leave the car running with the keys inside.”
noun
1
A foolish or scatterbrained person.
"If you don't remember you are a nitwit. If you do answer, well, you know what the penalty is for perjury."
— State Bar Association of Connecticut, Annual Report (1918)
""Don't be a nitwit, honey!" says Adele. "Here, let me open the door! Ma be I did leave them lights on, though it ain't ike me!""
— Nina Wilcox Putnam, Laughter Inc (1922)
"Only a nitwit would leave the car running with the keys inside."
"Stop acting like a nitwit and read the instructions."
How to use nitwit
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn informal, mildly insulting word for someone acting foolishly.
When to use it
Informal and a bit old-fashioned, but still understood and used affectionately in some contexts.
Common pairings
act like a nitwit
a total nitwit
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Word forms
- Plural
- nitwits
Fill the gap
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Only a _____ would leave the car running with the keys inside.
Etymology
First recorded in the US in the 1910s, likely from German or Yiddish dialect words for "nothing" combined with "wit."
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “nitwit” mean?
The word “nitwit” means a foolish or scatterbrained person. In plain terms, an informal, mildly insulting word for someone acting foolishly.
How do you pronounce “nitwit”?
“Nitwit” is pronounced NIHT-wiht (/ˈnɪtwɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “nitwit” in a sentence?
Here is “nitwit” used in a sentence: “Only a nitwit would leave the car running with the keys inside.”
What part of speech is “nitwit”?
“Nitwit” is a noun.
Where does the word “nitwit” come from?
The word “nitwit” dates back to around 1910 and comes from German. First recorded in the US in the 1910s, likely from German or Yiddish dialect words for "nothing" combined with "wit.".
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