imbecile
Psychology. (no longer in technical use; now considered offensive) a person of the second order in a former and discarded classification of intellectual disability, above the level of idiocy, having a mental age of seven or eight years and an intelligence quotient of 25 to 50.
Origin of imbecile
1Other words from imbecile
- im·be·cil·ic, adjective
- im·be·cile·ly, adverb
Words Nearby imbecile
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use imbecile in a sentence
He pointed to unvaccinated people who are “clogging” up overwhelmed hospitals, calling them “imbeciles” and “nut jobs” and suggesting that doctors and nurses not treat those who have not taken a coronavirus vaccine.
Howard Stern blasts unvaccinated Americans, casting vaccine mandate as ‘freedom to live’ | Timothy Bella | September 9, 2021 | Washington PostOf all the problems in this country, that is what this imbecile is focused on.
Jimmy Kimmel Drags Marjorie Taylor Greene Over Idiotic Anti-Mask Stunt | William Vaillancourt | May 21, 2021 | The Daily BeastI was hooked: Beckham was a brilliant imbecile, and England was my squad.
In his youth, however, though too imbecile for study or for business, he was not incapable of being amused.
The History of England from the Accession of James II. | Thomas Babington MacaulayHe just wrote things, things that he thought were adequately imbecile, and shot them into letter-boxes.
The Creators | May Sinclair
Good people, especially good women of the old type, would all counsel the imbecile sacrifice.
The Daughters of Danaus | Mona Cairdimbecile children are to be kept in the workhouse till they are five years old, and may then be sent to the asylum at Darenth.
English Poor Law Policy | Sidney WebbYou, poor imbecile, who carry under your hauberk four relics blessed by the Pope!
The Pilgrim's Shell or Fergan the Quarryman | Eugne Sue
British Dictionary definitions for imbecile
psychol a person of very low intelligence (IQ of 25 to 50), usually capable only of guarding himself against danger and of performing simple mechanical tasks under supervision
informal an extremely stupid person; dolt
of or like an imbecile; mentally deficient; feeble-minded
stupid or senseless: an imbecile thing to do
Origin of imbecile
1Derived forms of imbecile
- imbecilely or imbecilically, adverb
- imbecility, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse