Otiose
Adjective
- Serving no practical purpose or result.
- Indolent; idle.
Example Sentences
“The new light fixtures were very beautiful, but they were otiose.”
“Most of my garden decor is otiose, but I still love it.”
“House cats live quite an otiose life, napping in sunbeams and requesting snacks all day.”
Word Origin
Latin, late 18th century
Why this word?
The next time someone accuses you of being lazy, you can say, “No, I’m ‘otiose.'” This adjective comes from the Latin otium, or “leisure,” and can mean either “indolent; idle” or describe something that doesn’t serve a practical purpose.