noun

sluggard

SLUG-erd

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Sluggard (noun) means a lazy person who is slow to get started on work that needs doing. Example: “The sluggard put off the washing up until it was piled to the ceiling.”

noun

A lazy person who is slow to get started on work that needs doing.

"The sluggard put off the washing up until it was piled to the ceiling."

"Don't be a sluggard, the garden won't weed itself."

"His brother called him a sluggard for lying in bed past noon."

How to use sluggard

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone who is lazy and puts off work.

When to use it

Sluggard sounds old-fashioned and is mostly used in a disapproving, half-joking way rather than in ordinary conversation.

Memory tip

Remember the -ard ending marks a criticism, much like in drunkard or coward.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

slug →

Common pairings

a lazy sluggard call someone a sluggard act like a sluggard

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ put off the washing up until it was piled to the ceiling.

Etymology

Sluggard developed from Middle English slogarde, a word thought to trace back to an Old Norse root. It is built from slug with the suffix -ard, which turns a quality into an insulting label for a person.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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idler layabout slug

Antonyms

doer

Related words

actor worker bullet bum lick idle slug doer

Frequently asked questions

What does sluggard mean?

A sluggard is a lazy person, especially one who is slow to begin work they should be getting on with.

Where does the word sluggard come from?

It comes from Middle English slogarde, likely rooted in Old Norse, formed from slug plus the insulting suffix -ard.

Is sluggard an insult?

Yes, it is a disapproving word used to criticise someone for laziness or habitual idleness.

What is the meaning of sluggard?

"sluggard" (noun) means a lazy person who is slow to get started on work that needs doing.

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actor worker bullet bum lick idle slug doer