sloth

noun \ˈslȯth, ˈsläth also ˈslōth\

: the quality or state of being lazy

: a type of animal that lives in trees in South and Central America and that moves very slowly

plural sloths \with ths or thz\

Full Definition of SLOTH

a : disinclination to action or labor : indolence

b : spiritual apathy and inactivity <the deadly sin of sloth>

: any of various slow-moving arboreal edentate mammals (genera Bradypus and Choloepus) that inhabit tropical forests of South and Central America, hang from the branches back downward, and feed on leaves, shoots, and fruits — compare three-toed sloth, two-toed sloth

See sloth defined for English-language learners

See sloth defined for kids

Illustration of SLOTH

Origin of SLOTH

Middle English slouthe, from slow slow

First Known Use: 12th century

Related to SLOTH

Synonyms: idleness, indolence, inertia, shiftlessness, laziness

Antonyms: drive, industriousness, industry

Other Mammals Terms

dormouse, dugong, gibbon, grimalkin, sable, stoat, ungulate, vole

Rhymes with SLOTH

broth, cloth, froth, moth, swath, troth

SLOTH Defined for Kids

sloth

noun \ˈslȯth, ˈslōth\

Definition of SLOTH for Kids

: the quality or state of being lazy

: an animal of Central and South America that hangs with its back downward and moves slowly along the branches of trees on whose leaves, twigs, and fruits it feeds