English Reference
adjective · verb · noun

lazy

adj. · v. · n.
US /ˈɫeɪzi/ UK /lˈeɪzi/ lazy UK spelling lazied, lazying

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    adj.not wanting to work or use any effort.

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

    Simple

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

    In context

    The manager grew frustrated with the lazy attitude of the new recruits, who frequently avoided their responsibilities during the busiest shifts.

    idleindolentslothful
    hard workingindustriousdiligent
  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    adj.moving slowly or in a relaxed way.

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

    Simple

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

    In context

    The river followed a lazy path through the valley, winding slowly between the ancient willow trees.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

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

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

    Simple

    The teacher pointed out several lazy mistakes in my essay.

    In context

    The critic dismissed the film as a lazy attempt to capitalise on the success of the original franchise without offering any new ideas.

  4. 04 C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    adj.waiting to calculate a result until it is actually needed.

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

    Simple

    Lazy evaluation can help improve the performance of your code.

    In context

    By implementing lazy loading for the images, the developer significantly reduced the initial page load time for mobile users.

  5. 05 C1 Advanced Informal

    v.to spend time doing nothing or being very relaxed.

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

    Simple

    We decided to lazy around the house all Sunday morning.

    In context

    Instead of finishing his chores, he spent the entire afternoon lazying on the sofa with his phone.

    lazeidleloaf
  6. 06 C2 Proficiency InformalDialect

    n.a person who is not willing to work.

    n.a person who habitually avoids work or effort.

    Simple

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

    In context

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

    layaboutslacker
    workaholic

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.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin ine-pro *las-
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Common
Updated