sloth

noun

ˈslȯth 

ˈsläth

also

ˈslōth 

plural sloths ˈslȯths 

ˈslȯṯẖz, 

ˈsläths, 

ˈsläṯẖz

also ˈslōths, 

ˈslōṯẖz

1

a

: disinclination to action or labor : indolence

b

: spiritual apathy and inactivity

the deadly sin of sloth

2

: any of various slow-moving arboreal edentate mammals (genera Bradypus and Choloepus) that inhabit tropical forests of South and Central America, hang from the branches back downward, and feed on leaves, shoots, and fruits compare three-toed sloth, two-toed sloth

Illustration of sloth

• sloth 2

Synonyms of sloth

• inertia

Examples of sloth in a Sentence

the sins of gluttony and sloth

a youth inclined more toward sloth than athletics

Recent Examples on the Web

The options include a panda, tiger, hippo, or (my favorite) a tiny little sloth. —Chaunie Brusie, Parents, 13 Mar. 2026

Tony, the resident sloth who was reliably hanging upside-down from the telephone wires above the entrance to the camp. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Mar. 2026

Around dusk, the two climbers attached mechanical ascenders to it and, hanging upside down like tree sloths, made the long, slow traverse to my platform. —Robert Moor, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026

Smaller, more sensitive mammals, like sloths, porcupines will be brought indoors and kept in a heated structure as well. —Dan Peck, ABC News, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English slouthe, from slow slow

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sloth

• ground sloth
• sloth bear
• three-toed sloth
• two-toed sloth

Rhymes for sloth

• both
• doeth
• growth
• loath
• oath
• quoth
• troth
• ingrowth
• outgrowth
• undergrowth

Kids Definition

sloth

noun

ˈslȯth  ˈslōth 

plural sloths

ˈslȯths, 

ˈslȯṯẖz

1

: the quality or state of being lazy

2

: any of several slow-moving mammals of the tropical forests of Central and South America that are related to the armadillos, live in trees, and feed on leaves, shoots, and fruits