What does sottish mean?
Sottish is an old-fashioned adjective meaning foolish, stupid, or thoughtless. Its historical associations connect the word with drunkenness: the related noun sot originally denoted a habitual drinker and came to carry contemptuous or morally disapproving associations. Consequently, sottish often suggests not merely a foolish mistake but behavior portrayed as disorderly, immoral, or typical of someone weakened by drink. The word survives mainly in literary, historical, and deliberately archaic contexts, where it gives descriptions a formal and censorious tone. In modern neutral prose, foolish or thoughtless would usually be clearer and less loaded. Because of its strong historical coloring, sottish is now encountered much less often than its modern synonyms, but it remains useful when an author wants to evoke older social attitudes toward intoxication and irresponsible conduct.
adjectiveFoolish, thoughtless, or stupid, especially in a way associated with excessive drinking.
- Foolish, stupid, or thoughtless, especially in a way associated with habitual drunkenness.
"His sottish behavior after the celebration embarrassed the entire household."
"The novel portrays the captain as a sottish man whose vanity leads to disaster."
"Rather than offering another excuse for his sottish conduct, he accepted responsibility for the damage."
Once a pointed label for foolishness linked with drink, sottish has faded into the vocabulary of moral and literary criticism.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sottish come from?
Sottish is derived from the Middle English word sot, a term for a habitual drinker and, by extension, a foolish or degraded person. The suffix -ish developed from the older adjective-forming element -ish. Related forms include sot and sotted, while the derivative sottishness preserves the modern noun form of the word.
Related word forms
How sottish is actually used
Now chiefly literary or archaic. It can sound deliberately old-fashioned or disapproving, and it often carries the implication of foolishness connected with excessive drinking.
Easily confused with sottish
Sottish means foolish or thoughtless, whereas sourish means slightly sour or tending to taste sour.