HALF-WIT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does half-wit mean? 

• HALF-WIT (noun)
  The noun HALF-WIT has 2 senses:

1. a person of subnormal intelligence

2. a stupid incompetent person

  Familiarity information: HALF-WIT used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HALF-WIT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A person of subnormal intelligence

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

changeling; cretin; half-wit; idiot; imbecile; moron; retard

Hypernyms ("half-wit" is a kind of...):

simple; simpleton (a person lacking intelligence or common sense)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "half-wit"):

mongoloid (a person suffering from Down syndrome (no longer used technically in this sense, now considered offensive))

Sense 2

Meaning:

A stupid incompetent person

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

dimwit; doofus; half-wit; nitwit

Hypernyms ("half-wit" is a kind of...):

simple; simpleton (a person lacking intelligence or common sense)

Domain usage:

colloquialism (a colloquial expression; characteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech)