Standard Lemma guide

idiot-proof

adj · verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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adj

Meaning 1

Incapable of being misused even by the most stupid or careless of users.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: humorous, informal

Examples

I tell you, this scheme is idiot-proof! It can't go wrong.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

verb

Meaning 2

To render something idiot-proof.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English idiot English proof English -proof English idiot-proof From idiot + -proof.

Word forms

Inflections and variants

more idiot-proof — comparative
most idiot-proof — superlative
idiotproof — alternative
idiot-proofs — present, singular, third-person
idiot-proofing — participle, present
idiot-proofed — participle, past
idiot-proofed — past

Word family

Derived and related words

Derived: none provided

Related: dummy-proof, foolproof

Semantic map

Other relationships

Sources

Where this information comes from

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