na-adjective, noun
A formal, literary term for a state of laziness or aversion to work. Not used in casual conversation; more common in older texts or elevated prose.
彼の遊惰な生活は、ついに破産を招いた。
His indolent lifestyle eventually led to bankruptcy.
遊惰は人間の最大の敵の一つである。
Indolence is one of humanity's greatest enemies.
怠惰 is the common word for laziness or sloth, used in both formal and everyday contexts. 遊惰 is rarer and more literary, emphasizing idleness as a lifestyle rather than a character trait.
無精 refers to a habitual disinclination to make an effort, often in specific areas (e.g., 筆無精, lazy about writing). 遊惰 is broader and more abstract, describing a general state of idleness.
Compound of 遊 (play, idle) and 惰 (lazy, negligent). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination conveys a sense of idleness rooted in a preference for leisure over work.