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- DictionaryIm·be·cile/ˈimbəs(ə)l/
noun
- 1. a stupid person.
adjective
- 1. stupid; idiotic: "try not to make imbecile remarks"
The term imbecile was once used by psychiatrists to denote a category of people with moderate to severe intellectual disability, as well as a type of criminal. The word arises from the Latin word imbecillus, meaning weak, or weak-minded.
An imbecile is an extremely stupid person. The noun imbecile is used informally as an insult to mean "fool". Its origins are in the Latin word imbecille, "weak or feeble," and it was an official medical term for people with a specific (and low) I.Q. in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
2 days ago · If you call someone an imbecile, you are showing that you think they are stupid or have done something stupid. [disapproval] I don't want to deal with these imbeciles any longer. Synonyms: idiot, fool, jerk [slang, mainly US, Canadian], tosser [British, slang] More Synonyms of imbecile.
Mar 23, 2024 · Noun. imbecile (plural imbeciles) ( obsolete) A person with limited mental capacity who can perform tasks and think only like a young child, in medical circles meaning a person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal five- to seven-year-old child. ( derogatory) A fool, an idiot . Usage notes.
What does the word imbecile mean? There are six meanings listed in OED's entry for the word imbecile, two of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. imbecile is considered offensive.
(old-fashioned, offensive) a word used to describe a person with a very low level of intelligence that is now considered offensive. Check pronunciation: imbecile. Definition of imbecile adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
1. A person who is considered foolish or stupid. 2. A person with moderate to severe intellectual disability having a mental age of from three to seven years and generally being capable of some degree of communication and performance of simple tasks under supervision.
