LAZY (lazier, laziest)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: lazier    , laziest   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does lazy mean? 

• LAZY (adjective)
  The adjective LAZY has 2 senses:

1. moving slowly and gently

2. disinclined to work or exertion

  Familiarity information: LAZY used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LAZY (adjective)

Comparative: lazier   
Superlative: laziest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Moving slowly and gently

Context example:

at a lazy pace

Similar:

slow (not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time)

Derivation:

laziness (relaxed and easy activity)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Disinclined to work or exertion

Synonyms:

faineant; indolent; lazy; otiose; slothful; work-shy

Context example:

the unemployed are not necessarily work-shy

Similar:

idle (not in action or at work)

Derivation:

laziness (apathy and inactivity in the practice of virtue (personified as one of the deadly sins))

laziness (inactivity resulting from a dislike of work)

 Context examples 

He was not afraid, but merely lazy.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

It will do me good, for since you came I have been altogether lazy and luxurious.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

“When I can run about again, as I used to do, aunt,” said Dora, “I shall make Jip race. He is getting quite slow and lazy.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

They’re lazy, I tell you, and you’ve got to whip them to get anything out of them.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

Did it just for the fun of it, but was too lazy to stay by the union.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Four of my lazy varlets strove this day to carry it hence.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Through the green fields a lazy blue river was drawing itself slowly along, passing under a bridge in front of us.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The lazy girl was delighted at this, and thought to herself, “The gold will soon be mine.”

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

This has led some people to characterise overweight people as lazy or lacking willpower.

(Slim people have a genetic advantage when it comes to maintaining their weight, University of Cambridge)

After all, I reflected, I was like my neighbours; and then I smiled, comparing myself with other men, comparing my active good-will with the lazy cruelty of their neglect.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)