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 …

Informal., an utterly foolish or senseless person. If you think you can wear that outfit to a job interview and get hired, you're an idiot!

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 …

Nov 1, 2025 · From Ancient Greek ἰδιώτης (idiṓtēs, “a private citizen, one who has no professional knowledge, layman”), from ἴδιος (ídios, “one's own, pertaining to oneself, private”).

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.

a completely stupid or foolish person: He was a total idiot to squander his life savings. Psychology formerly, a person classified in the lowest rank of mental retardation.

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 …