What is the Latin word for idleness?

The usual Latin words for “idleness” are ignāvia, iners, sēgnitia; also dēsidia, socors, pigritia. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“idleness” in Latin

ignāviainactivity, laziness, idleness, sloth, listlessness; cowardice, worthlessness inerswithout skill, unskilled, unskillful, incompetent, crude; inactive, lazy, idle, indolent, sluggish, inert; worthless; st sēgnitiasloth, slowness, tardiness, sluggishness, inactivity dēsidiaidleness; inactivity; laziness, indolence, sloth socorsfoolish, silly; sluggish, inert, inactive, dull (lacking in vitality or alertness); taking no interest in pigritiasloth, sluggishness, laziness, indolence

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

idleness

ignavia (denotes the love of idleness, in an ideal sense, inasmuch as the impulse to action distinguishes the more noble from the ordinary man, and gives him an absolute value; opposed to industria): inertia (denotes the love of idleness in a real tangible sense, inasmuch as activity makes a man a useful member of society, and gives him a relative value. Ignavia is inherent in the disposition; a disinclination for action: inertia lies in the character and habits; a disinclination to work. A lazy slave is called iners; a person of rank, that passes his time in doing nothing, is ignavus): segnitia (less commonly segnities): desidia: socordia: pigritia (are the faults of a too easy or indolent temperament. Segnitia wants rousing, or compulsion, and must be conquered before it resigns its ease; opposed to promptus; ☞ Tac., Agr., 21. Desidia, from sedere, sits down with folded hands, and expects that things will happen of themselves; socordia is susceptible of no lively interest, and neglects its duties from thoughtless indifference; pigritia has an antipathy to all motion, and always likes best to be in a state of absolute bodily rest, like laziness, slothfulness, Döderlein): fuga laboris (dislike of trouble, etc.). (The words are found in this connection and order.) tarditas et ignavia: socordia atque ignavia: languor et desidia: Excessive idleness, inertissima segnitia: his is always a busy idleness, multa agendo nihil agit (aft Phaedrus). Idleness is the mother of all vices, nihil agendo male agere homines discunt (Col.).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for idleness?: The usual Latin words for “idleness” are ignāvia, iners, sēgnitia; also dēsidia, socors, pigritia. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.