The state of not working, being inactive, or not being used; laziness or lack of purpose or direction.
From 'idle' (Old English 'idel' meaning 'empty' or 'useless') + -ness suffix forming abstract nouns. The word originally meant 'emptiness' before taking on meanings of inactivity.
Medieval monks actually scheduled 'idleness' into their days—they called it 'otium' and considered contemplative leisure as important as labor, a radical idea capitalism still hasn't recovered.
Historically feminized as moral failing—'idle hands' rhetoric targeted women's work outside economic production, linked to laziness stereotypes applied to caregiving and domestic labor.
Use 'inactivity,' 'rest,' or 'downtime' contextually. Avoid loading 'idleness' with moral judgment.
["inactivity","rest","downtime","pause"]
Women's unpaid labor (care, domestic work) was historically coded as 'idle' to justify non-compensation and social invisibility.
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