idiot

idiot — noun

1. an insulting word for someone who has done something very foolish or acts withou

1.nounB1
Definition

an insulting word for someone who has done something very foolish or acts without common sense

Example

Wei felt like a complete idiot after locking his keys in the car.

collocation: complete idiot / total idiot

Only an idiot would try to cross that busy highway in the dark.

pattern: 'Only an idiot would...' for expressing disbelief

Synonyms
  • fool

    milder and less offensive than idiot; can be affectionate

  • moron

    similar strength of offensiveness, informal

  • simpleton

    old-fashioned and milder; less common in modern speech

Antonyms
  • genius

    someone with exceptional intelligence, opposite in meaning

Grammar Patterns

an idiot

like an idiot

feel like an idiot

call someone an idiot

Usage Note

Considered rude and offensive when directed at a person directly ('You idiot!'). Can be used more mildly about oneself or about a specific action. The adjective idiotic is slightly less personal and less offensive.

Common Mistakes

That's so idiot.
That's so idiotic.
idiot is a noun; idiotic is the adjective form.
He is idiot.
He is an idiot.
idiot is a countable noun and needs an article.

Word family

  • idiocy
    nounC1
  • idiotic
    adjectiveB2
  • idiotically
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Idiot, fool, moron, and simpleton all describe a person lacking good judgment or intelligence, but they differ in offensiveness and tone. Fool is the mildest — it can even be used affectionately ('you old fool') and appears in fixed expressions like 'April Fool' or 'fool's gold.' Moron is roughly equal to idiot in offensiveness and informality, though it originally came from clinical psychology (like idiot) and still carries that medical-history baggage. Simpleton is old-fashioned and less common today; it suggests a harmless, naive person rather than an infuriating one. In modern usage, idiot is the most frequent of the four in everyday speech. Example: 'Don't be a fool — take the umbrella' (gentle warning) vs 'You absolute idiot — you left the tap running!' (angry insult).

fool ↗moronsimpleton

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • feel like an idiot
  • act like an idiot
  • make an idiot of oneself
  • call someone an idiot
  • complete idiot
  • total idiot
  • absolute idiot

Prepositions

  • like an idiot
  • of an idiot

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

The word idiot entered English from Old French idiote, which came from Latin idiota meaning 'ignorant person' or 'layman.' The Latin word itself was borrowed from Greek idiōtēs, which originally referred to a private citizen — someone who did not hold public office — and later shifted to mean an unskilled or ignorant person. Over centuries the meaning narrowed from 'uneducated person' to 'person of very low intelligence,' and today it is used almost exclusively as a strong insult.