idiocy

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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]