What does laziness mean?
Laziness is the quality of being unwilling to work, make an effort, or take necessary action. The word is often used to criticize a person for showing little initiative, although it can also refer more generally to a lack of energy or involvement. In its strongest sense, laziness implies a habitual pattern rather than a single moment of inactivity. It may occur in personal contexts, such as describing a student who avoids homework, as well as in figurative settings involving an institution, organization, or wider society. Because the term carries a distinctly negative judgement, it is often better suited to informal discussion and direct criticism than to neutral academic description. The related adjective is lazy, while lazily is its usual adverb form.
nounLaziness is the habit or quality of being unwilling to work, exert effort, or take action. It can also refer more broadly to a lack of energy, initiative, or willingness to become involved.
- Reluctance or habitual unwillingness to work, exert effort, or take action.
- A broader lack of energy, initiative, or willingness to become involved.
"His laziness prevented him from making even a modest effort to improve the situation."
"The team's early-season laziness was obvious in their failure to chase even simple points."
"In his essay, the author examined laziness not merely as personal conduct but as a social and economic problem."
Usually uncountable; the plural is rare and is used mainly when referring to different instances or types of laziness.
"The novel explores several forms of human lazinesses."
Laziness has been part of English since the Middle English period, where it emerged from a word meaning loose or slack before developing into a familiar modern complaint.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does laziness come from?
Laziness developed from the adjective lazy, which appeared in Middle English in the late medieval period. The adjective came through Old French from a Germanic root associated with looseness or slackness, a sense reflected in related forms such as laze. Over time, the word's meaning narrowed and developed to describe a reluctance to work or exert effort, giving rise to the modern noun laziness.
Related word forms
How laziness is actually used
Laziness is usually critical or disapproving. It may describe a person, an attitude, an activity, or an apparent failure of effort, but it is more commonly applied to behaviour than to temporary tiredness or physical limitation.
Easily confused with laziness
Laxity usually means looseness or lack of strictness, especially in rules or standards, whereas laziness specifically describes a reluctance to exert effort or act.
Idleness can be neutral and simply describe having no occupation, while laziness generally carries a negative judgment about a failure to work or make an effort.