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Meaning & use

laziness

noun·Everydaydisapproving

Last updated

UK/ˈleɪzinəs/
US/ˈleɪzinəs/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meanings

  1. noununcountabledisapproving

    The habit of avoiding work or effort when you could do something.

    Grammar: No plural and no article: laziness is a habit, not a mood.

    Patterns

    • out of laziness
    • laziness about something

    Out of sheer laziness, he left his dishes in the sink for three days.

    Her laziness caused problems when the whole team had to cover for her.

    The teacher said the poor grades came from laziness, not from lack of ability.

  2. noununcountableliterary

    A slow, relaxed feeling in which you do not want to do anything.

    Grammar: A softer, often pleasant sense, as in the laziness of a summer afternoon.

    Patterns

    • the laziness of a day
    • a feeling of laziness

    A pleasant laziness settled over the town during the long afternoon.

    The laziness of the holiday made everyone sleep late.

    I gave in to laziness and stayed on the sofa all Sunday.

Common combinations

out of laziness
She skipped the lecture out of laziness, not illness.
sheer laziness
The delay was due to sheer laziness.
accuse of laziness
The boss accused the interns of laziness.
a streak of laziness
He has a streak of laziness that shows in his messy desk.
overcome laziness
It took years to overcome laziness and finish the course.

Synonyms and how they differ

idleness
Idleness can simply mean having nothing to do, while laziness suggests you choose not to work when you could.
sloth
Sloth is a formal, old-fashioned word, often used in moral or religious writing, while laziness is the everyday word.
indolence
Indolence is a formal word for a lazy habit, often with a hint of loving comfort, while laziness is more direct.
lethargy
Lethargy describes a heavy tiredness, often from illness, while laziness is a matter of unwillingness.

Opposites

diligenceindustryenergy

Word family

lazy adjective
unwilling to work or make effort
lazily adverb
in a slow, relaxed or unenergetic way
laze verb
to relax and do nothing
lazybones noun
an informal, often teasing word for a lazy person

Commonly confused: laziness or tiredness?

laziness vs tiredness

Tiredness is a physical need to rest, while laziness is an unwillingness to make an effort, even when you are able.

Practice

Which sentence shows laziness rather than tiredness?

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