# lackadaisical

/ˌɫækəˈdeɪzɪkəɫ/ (US) · /lˌækɐdˈeɪzɪkəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lackadaisical
Updated: 2026-09-23

## Definition

showing a lack of interest, energy, or care. You use this to describe someone who does a job poorly because they are not trying hard enough.

For teachers: characterised by a lack of enthusiasm, determination, or care; lazily indolent. Often used to describe a person's attitude toward work or responsibilities.

## Examples

- His lackadaisical attitude toward his homework worried his parents.
- The team lost the match because of their lackadaisical performance in the second half.
- The project failed not due to a lack of funding, but because of the lackadaisical management style that allowed small errors to compound over time.

## Synonyms

tired, exhausted, weak, sleepy, lazy, limp, weary, listless, languorous, spiritless, languid, languishing

## Usage notes

- Typically used to describe a person's attitude, effort, or approach to a task.

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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.