sloth

[ slawth slohth ]

noun

1. habitual disinclination to exertion; laziness; indolence:

   Indifference, negligence, and sloth have no place in the classroom.

   Synonyms: idleness

2. any of several slow-moving, arboreal, tropical American edentates of the family Bradypodidae, having a long, coarse, grayish-brown coat often of a greenish cast caused by algae, and long, hooklike claws used in gripping tree branches while hanging or moving along in a habitual upside-down position.
3. a pack or group of bears.

sloth

/ sləʊθ /

noun

1. any of several shaggy-coated arboreal edentate mammals of the family Bradypodidae, esp Bradypus tridactylus ( three-toed sloth or ai ) or Choloepus didactylus ( two-toed sloth or unau ), of Central and South America. They are slow-moving, hanging upside down by their long arms and feeding on vegetation
2. reluctance to work or exert oneself

Word History and Origins

Origin of sloth¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English slowth; replacing Old English slǣwth, derivative of slǣw, variant of slāw “slow”; slow, -th ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sloth¹

Old English slǣwth; from slǣw, variant of slāw slow

Example Sentences

Yet a recent study in the journal PeerJ Life and Environment revealed that sloths' laid back lives are imperiled by the same human-caused problem endangering much of the planet — climate change.

From Salon

This license allows her to operate her Missouri zoo, Sunrise Beach Safari, where guests can hold sloths, see kangaroos and feed llamas.

From Los Angeles Times

Talk about outlandish — I’m here at the edge of the world to learn more about the demise of ancient giant sloths, as well as environmental and wildlife conservation lessons for the future.

From Salon

In the forest, the virus circulates among primates, sloths, and birds; it’s unclear which insect spreads it there.

From Science Magazine

The reverse trek was made by four different kinds of ground sloths, oversized armadillos, terror birds, capybaras and even a marsupial.

From Science Daily