sloth

noun

ˈslȯth 

ˈsläth,

also

ˈslōth 

plural sloths ˈslȯths 

ˈslȯṯẖz,

ˈsläths,

ˈsläṯẖz,

 also  ˈslōths,

ˈslōṯẖz

1

a

: disinclination to action or labor : indolence

b

: spiritual apathy and inactivity

the deadly sin of sloth

2

: 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

Illustration of sloth

• sloth 2

Synonyms

• idleness
• indolence
• inertia
• laziness
• shiftlessness

Examples of sloth in a Sentence

the sins of gluttony and sloth

a youth inclined more toward sloth than athletics

Recent Examples on the Web

This allows her team to analyze when the sloth osteoderms were likely modified. —Christina Larson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024

This illustration provided by researchers depicts a person carving an osteoderm from a giant sloth in Brazil about 25,000 to 27,000 years ago. —CBS News, 20 Dec. 2024

Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news Other than the sloth, whose smile is pretty much permanently attached, the non-human animal most associated with smiling is the bottlenose dolphin. —Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024

Even though the sloth ended up in a place it wasn't supposed to be, it was swiftly returned to its home. —Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English slouthe, from slow slow

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sloth

• ground sloth
• sloth bear
• three-toed sloth
• two-toed sloth

Kids Definition

sloth

noun

ˈslȯth  ˈslōth 

plural sloths

ˈslȯths,

ˈslȯṯẖz

1

: the quality or state of being lazy

2

: any of several slow-moving mammals of the tropical forests of Central and South America that are related to the armadillos, live in trees, and feed on leaves, shoots, and fruits