fainéant

(fā'nā-äN')
adj.
Given to doing nothing; idle. See synonyms at lazy.

n.
An irresponsible idler; a sluggard.

[French, alteration (influenced by fait néant, does nothing) of Old French faignant, idler, from present participle of faindre, feindre, to feign. See feign.]

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adjective

Resistant to exertion and activity: idle, indolent, lazy, shiftless, slothful, sluggard, sluggish. Informal do-nothing. Idioms: bone lazy. See action/inaction, industrious/lazy.

noun

A self-indulgent person who spends time avoiding work or other useful activity: bum¹, drone¹, good-for-nothing, idler, layabout, loafer, ne'er-do-well, no-good, slugabed, sluggard, wastrel. Informal do-little, do-nothing, lazybones, slug². Slang slouch. See industrious/lazy.

given to do nothing, idle, lazy

IN BRIEF: adj. - Disinclined to work or exertion.

Tutor's tip: This word was used in the 2006 Scripps National Spelling Bee finals.

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