WordGarden.ioidler
B2Pronunciation
UK
US
- /ˈaɪdələr/
Meanings
Noun
a person who avoids work or spends time doing little
a wheel, gear, or pulley used to guide motion or maintain tension
Beyond the definition
An idler is not usually someone who cannot work, but someone who does not make much effort to work or do anything useful. Picture a busy town square on a sunny afternoon: while others are trading or building, one person is stretched out on a bench, happy to let the day pass. The word often carries a note of disapproval, suggesting wasted time and unused ability. In stories, idlers are often shown as pleasant but unreliable people who live off the work of others while giving little back. The term can also describe a machine part, such as a wheel, pulley, or gear, that turns or helps guide motion without supplying power itself.
The word "idler" refers to a person who regularly avoids work or useful activity. It is more than just taking a short rest; it suggests a lasting habit of inactivity and a lack of drive. The term often carries a moral tone, suggesting that the person is not doing what they should to be useful or productive.
Historically, the term was used for people who had no trade, no steady work, or no clear role, and who were often viewed with suspicion for living off the labor of others. That older sense still shapes the modern feeling of the word. You will often meet idlers in 19th-century literature. For instance, many of Charles Dickens' characters are classic idlers: people who spend their days waiting for "something to turn up" instead of looking for work. A typical example might be: "Despite the family's poverty, the eldest son remained a confirmed idler, preferring to spend his afternoons in the tavern rather than the workshop."
However, "idler" also has a specific technical meaning. In mechanics, an "idler pulley" or "idler gear" is a part that does not power the machine by itself, but instead guides a belt or passes motion between other parts. This mechanical use closely matches the human one: it is present in the system and may keep moving, but it is not the source of the work. Whether it refers to a person or a machine part, the core idea is similar: something is there in the middle of activity without being the force that drives it.
Examples
- 1
Fiction
In the novel, he is seen as an idler who lives off his family's money.
- 2
Workplace
The boss had little patience with idlers who arrived late and left early.
- 3
Machine part
The squeaking stopped after the mechanic replaced the idler pulley.
- Domainidler pulley
a wheel that helps guide or tighten a belt in a machine
See also
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- idlernounadjective