English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From French idiotie, from Old French idiot. Displaced earlier idiotacy, idiotry. Equivalent to idiot +‎ -cy.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈɪdi.əsi/
  • (file)

Noun edit

idiocy (countable and uncountable, plural idiocies)

  1. (dated, psychology, now derogatory) The state or condition of being an idiot; the quality of having an intelligence level far below average; mental retardation; intellectual disability.
  2. (uncountable) Lack of intelligence or sense; extremely foolish behaviour.
    Synonyms: imbecility, stupidity
    The administrators, growing tired of such idiocy, put a new policy in place.
  3. (countable) An idiotic act or utterance.
    The list of his idiocies is seemingly interminable.

Synonyms edit

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

Translations edit

References edit

  • idiocy”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Anagrams edit