idler
id·ler/ˈaɪ̯dlɚ/noun, adjective
idler is spelled I-D-L-E-R: 5 letters and 2 syllables (id·ler). It appears about once in every 5 million words in written English, the 66,686th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, idler means “One who idles; one who spends their time in inaction” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of idler is idlers.
How many letters and syllables are in idler?
| Letters | 5: I-D-L-E-R |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: id·ler |
| In writing | about once in every 5 million words; the 66,686th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is idler?
Idler appears about once in every 5 million words in written English, the 66,686th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce idler?
- UK /ˈaɪ̯dləː/
- US /ˈaɪ̯dlɚ/
Idler has 2 syllables, split id·ler in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-idler.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of idler
- idlers plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does idler mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
One who idles; one who spends their time in inaction.
- 2
One who idles; a lazy person; a sluggard.
- 3
datedAny member of a ship's crew who is not required to keep the night-watch.
- 4
A mechanical device such as a pulley or wheel that does not transmit power through its own axle, but forms part of a gear train, supports a moving belt, etc.
adjective
- 1
comparative form of idle: more idle
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Idler in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | fainéant, fainéante |
| German | untätiger Mitarbeiter, untätige Mitarbeiterin , Faulpelz, Faulenzer, Faulenzerin, Drohne |
| Spanish | ocioso , holgazán, flojo, remolón, comodón, zángano |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does idler come from?
From idle + -er.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).