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lazy

adj. · v. · n.
US //ˈɫeɪzi// UK //lˈeɪzi// lazy
  1. 1 unwilling to work (adj.)
    A2 Elementary

    not wanting to work or use any effort.

    disinclined to activity or exertion; showing a lack of motivation to perform tasks.

    Example

    He is too lazy to cook, so he usually just orders pizza.

    Example

    The manager grew frustrated with the lazy attitude of the new recruits, who frequently avoided their responsibilities during the busiest shifts.
  2. 2 relaxed or slow (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    moving slowly or in a relaxed way.

    characterised by a lack of haste or energy; moving in a slow, leisurely manner.

    Example

    We spent a lazy afternoon sitting by the river and watching the boats.

    Example

    The river followed a lazy path through the valley, winding slowly between the ancient willow trees.
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  1. 3 careless (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    showing that you have not put enough thought or effort into something.

    demonstrating a lack of precision, rigour, or care in execution.

    Example

    The teacher pointed out several lazy mistakes in my essay.

    Example

    The critic dismissed the film as a lazy attempt to capitalise on the success of the original franchise without offering any new ideas.
  2. 4 computing (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    waiting to calculate a result until it is actually needed.

    relating to a functional programming strategy where expression evaluation is deferred until the value is required.

    Example

    Lazy evaluation can help improve the performance of your code.

    Example

    By implementing lazy loading for the images, the developer significantly reduced the initial page load time for mobile users.
  3. 5 to be idle (v.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    to spend time doing nothing or being very relaxed.

    to behave in an idle or indolent manner; to pass time without effort.

    Example

    We decided to lazy around the house all Sunday morning.

    Example

    Instead of finishing his chores, he spent the entire afternoon lazying on the sofa with his phone.
  4. 6 an idle person (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Informal Dialect

    a person who is not willing to work.

    a person who habitually avoids work or effort.

    Example

    Don't be such a lazy; get up and help us clean.

    Example

    The old man complained that the village was full of young lazies who had no interest in farming.
    • workaholic
Origin

Attested since 1540, origin uncertain. Probably from Low German and Middle Low German lasich (“slack, feeble, lazy”), from las, from Old Saxon lask, from Proto-Germanic lasiwaz, laskaz (“feeble, weak”), from Proto-Indo-European *las- (“weak”). Akin to Dutch leuzig (“lazy”), Old Norse lasinn (“limpy, tired, weak”), Old English lesu, lysu (“false, evil, base”). More at lush. An alternative etymology traces lazy to Early Modern English laysy, a derivative of lay (plural lays + -y) in the same way that tipsy is derived from tip. See lay.

Word family

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