[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/idiot/)

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# idiot

noun (an idiot, idiots)

«idiot» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (rude) An idiot is a person who does something very stupid; it is an insult. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idiot/#m1)
2. (informal, joking) People call themselves or a friend an idiot when they make a silly mistake. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idiot/#m2)
3. (old, now offensive) It was once a medical word for a person with a learning disability; it is not used that way now. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idiot/#m3)

### In the lessons

In everyday life, «you idiot!» is name-calling and can hurt feelings; at school it is usually not allowed. People often say «I'm such an idiot» about their own small mistake. In stories, a character who acts foolishly may be called an idiot. Phrases: you idiot, what an idiot, feel like an idiot, make an idiot of yourself.

### Examples

- I'm such an idiot — I left my lunch at home! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idiot/#x1)
- Don't call your brother an idiot; it's unkind. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idiot/#x2)
- He felt like an idiot when he fell in the puddle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idiot/#x3)
- Only an idiot would cycle without lights at night. (rude) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idiot/#x4)
- She made an idiot of herself at the party. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idiot/#x5)
- «You idiot!» shouted the driver. (rude) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idiot/#x6)
- I was an idiot to forget the key, laughed Dad. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idiot/#x7)
- ‘Ahem!’ There he stood like an idiot. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idiot/#x8)

### Note

Countable noun; use «an idiot» because it starts with a vowel sound. The adjective is «idiotic». It is an insult: rude when aimed at others, joking when about yourself. Do not use the old medical sense.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «idiot» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idiot/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«idiot» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/idiot.html) on Mova free.