What does idiotic mean?

Answer 1

Idiot derives from idiotes, a Greek word for a private person, an individual not involved in politics. Our Athenian ancestors thought that anyone who was too wrapped up in business to participate in politics was ... an idiot. Nowadays the term is used for people who are aware only of their own condition, being oblivious to anything else.

The word entered Latin meaning a kind of self-absorbed fool, and came into English use from a French word with the same meaning. By 1300 idiot had come to mean "a person that is severely mentally deficient and unable to reason effectively.

Doctors used the term Idiot to refer to a specific degree of mental retardation where, in their opinion, the person had a mental age below three years and were unable to learn connected speech or guard against common dangers.

This classification is now considered to be offensive and is no longer used.

Answer 2

In psychological terms, an idiot refers to a severely retarded individual, generally with an IQ below 20. In common usage, idiot is a pejorative term used to refer to someone who acts stupid, moronic, dumb, etc.

Answer 3

Idiotic means showing foolishness or stupidity. a mentally deficient person. It is often used as an insult.