The English idiot originally meant “ignorant person,” but the more usual reference now is to a person who lacks basic intelligence or common sense rather than education.

An idiot, in modern use, is a stupid or foolish person. "Idiot" was formerly a technical term in legal and psychiatric contexts for some kinds of profound intellectual disability where the mental age is two …

IDIOT definition: an utterly foolish or senseless person. See examples of idiot used in a sentence.

Get a quick, free translation! IDIOT definition: 1. a stupid person or someone who is behaving in a stupid way: 2. a stupid person or someone who…. Learn more.

Define idiot. idiot synonyms, idiot pronunciation, idiot translation, English dictionary definition of idiot. n. 1. A person who is considered foolish or stupid. 2. A person with profound intellectual disability …

Dec 16, 2025 · Only an idiot would fail this exam. After failing a hat-trick of exams, the teacher called him an idiot.

Definition of idiot noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

If you call someone an idiot, you are showing that you think they are very stupid or have done something very stupid.

The word idiot originated in the 1300s, from the Old French word idiote, which meant "person so mentally deficient as to be incapable of ordinary reasoning." Today, though, idiot describes anyone …

An idiot is a term used to describe someone who acts in a way that lacks intelligence, common sense or rationality. It is often used as an insult, implying that the person is foolish, uninformed and engaging …