# idiotic

/ˌɪdiˈɑtɪk/ (US) · /ˌɪdɪˈɒtɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/idiotic
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. very foolish

adjective · CEFR B2

extremely stupid or showing a complete lack of good sense.

For teachers: manifesting or characterised by extreme stupidity or foolishness. Often used to describe specific actions or decisions rather than innate intelligence.

- It was an idiotic mistake to leave the car windows open during the storm.
- The board's decision to ignore the market warnings was described by analysts as idiotic, given the clear evidence of an impending crash.

Usage: Usually sits before the noun it describes or follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'seem'.

Teaching tip: While 'idiot' was once a medical term, 'idiotic' is now purely an insult. It is stronger and more critical than 'silly' or 'unwise'.

## Examples

- It was an idiotic mistake to leave the car unlocked.
- The company lost thousands of dollars because of an idiotic clerical error that nobody noticed for weeks.
- While the plan seemed idiotic to the seasoned engineers, the marketing team insisted that its very absurdity would capture the public's imagination.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.