Meaning & use

idiot

noun·Everyday

A person regarded as very foolish, stupid, or lacking in common sense.

See it in a sentence

He felt like an idiot after locking his keys inside the running car.

Only an idiot would invest their entire savings in a single stock.

A note on using this word

Idiot is informal and can be harsh or insulting; softer alternatives like "silly" or "careless" are often better in polite or professional contexts.

Words with a similar meaning

fooldoltimbecile

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “idiot”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.