Word
laziness
Phoneticslazi·ness
US/ˈɫeɪzinəs/
UK/lˈeɪzɪnəs/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the quality of not wanting to work or use any effort. It is the feeling of being unwilling to do something because it is too much trouble.
n. the quality or state of being unwilling to exert oneself or perform work despite having the ability to do so.
Examples
“His laziness is the reason he never finishes his homework.”
“The manager was frustrated by the team's laziness during the final week of the project.”
“While some view his lack of productivity as simple laziness, others argue it is a symptom of burnout caused by months of excessive overtime.”
Examples
simple
“His laziness is the reason he never finishes his homework.”
contextual
“The manager was frustrated by the team's laziness during the final week of the project.”
complex
“While some view his lack of productivity as simple laziness, others argue it is a symptom of burnout caused by months of excessive overtime.”
Usage
Uncountable in its abstract sense; occasionally used with 'a' when describing a specific type or instance of the quality.
Etymology
From lazy + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/laziness