Cretin: meaning, definitions and examples
๐คทโโ๏ธ
cretin
[ หkrษtษชn ]
medical condition
Cretin refers to a person who is severely mentally disabled and has a physical deformity, typically due to a lack of thyroid hormone. Historically, the term has been used to describe people with congenital hypothyroidism, especially when caused by a lack of iodine in the diet.
Synonyms
dullard, fool, idiot, simpleton
Examples of usage
- The village had a high number of cretins due to iodine deficiency.
- Medical professionals must be careful not to use the term cretin in a derogatory manner.
- Cretinism can lead to various physical and mental challenges.
- He was labeled a cretin because of his learning difficulties.
Translations
Translations of the word "cretin" in other languages:
๐ต๐น cretino
๐ฎ๐ณ เคฎเฅเคฐเฅเค
๐ฉ๐ช Kretin
๐ฎ๐ฉ cretin
๐บ๐ฆ ะบัะตัะธะฝ
๐ต๐ฑ kretyn
๐ฏ๐ต ใฏใชใผใใณ
๐ซ๐ท crรฉtin
๐ช๐ธ cretino
๐น๐ท cretin
๐ฐ๐ท ํฌ๋ ํด
๐ธ๐ฆ ูุฑูุชูู
๐จ๐ฟ kreten
๐ธ๐ฐ kreten
๐จ๐ณ ็ฝ็ด
๐ธ๐ฎ cretin
๐ฎ๐ธ kreti
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะบัะตัะธะฝ
๐ฌ๐ช แแ แแขแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ cretin
๐ฒ๐ฝ cretino
Etymology
The word 'cretin' has its origins in the French dialect word 'crรฉtin', which means 'a Christian' or 'a person of God', deriving from the Latin 'Christianus'. This term was originally used in the Alps in Switzerland, where it described people who suffered from congenital hypothyroidism due to a lack of iodine in the diet. The term evolved into a label for those with severe physical and mental disabilities. Over time, 'cretin' began to take on a more negative connotation as it was used pejoratively to describe any person considered simple-minded or foolish, which has led to its controversial use in modern language. Despite its medical background, the term is now widely recognized as derogatory and offensive.
Word Frequency Rank
Ranking #36,419, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.
- ...
- 36416 resealed
- 36417 painfulness
- 36418 vivify
- 36419 cretin
- 36420 shrivelling
- 36421 somnambulist
- 36422 effervescing
- ...