imbecilic

im·be·cile  (mb-sl, -sl)

n.

1. A stupid or silly person; a dolt.

2. A person whose mental acumen is well below par.

3. A person of moderate to severe mental retardation having a mental age of from three to seven years and generally being capable of some degree of communication and performance of simple tasks under supervision. The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is now considered offensive.

adj. also im·be·cil·ic (mb-slk)

1. Stupid; silly.

2. Well below par in mental acumen.

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[From obsolete French imbécille, weak, feeble, from Old French, from Latin imbcillus : in-, not; see in-¹ + possibly bacillum, staff, diminutive of baculum, rod; see bak- in Indo-European roots.]

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imbe·cile·ly adv.

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

imbecilic - having a mental age of three to seven years imbecile, idiotic retarded - relatively slow in mental or emotional or physical development; "providing a secure and sometimes happy life for the retarded"