Pronunciation: [ˈasɪnˌa͡ɪn] (IPA) 
The word "asinine" is spelled with the letters A-S-I-N-I-N-E. In phonetic terms, it is pronounced as /ˈæsənaɪn/ in American English and /ˈæsɪnaɪn/ in British English. The first syllable of the word is pronounced with a short "a" sound, followed by an "s" sound, then a long "i" sound, and finally ending with a short "n" sound. The word means foolish or stupid, and is derived from the Latin word "asinus," meaning donkey.
Asinine is an adjective that describes behaviors, actions, or statements that are extremely foolish, senseless, or lacking intelligence. It is commonly used to express frustration or disbelief at someone's stupidity or idiocy. The term originates from the Latin word "asinus," meaning "ass" or "donkey," which represents a creature often perceived as unintelligent.
When applied to people or situations, asinine indicates behaviors or statements that are devoid of reason, logic, or common sense. It suggests a level of stupidity that is remarkable or astounding, often leaving others dumbfounded. An asinine action may be characterized by an undue amount of risk, a disregard for the consequences, or a failure to comprehend the obvious. Similarly, an asinine statement can display an incredibly ignorant or uninformed perspective lacking any basis in truth, evidence, or rational thought.
By describing something as asinine, individuals commonly convey a strong negative judgment, emphasizing the foolishness or absurdity of the subject matter. It can be used to critique someone's actions, decisions, or beliefs, highlighting their lack of intelligence, reason, or wisdom. However, it is important to exercise caution when employing this term, as it can be seen as derogatory or offensive if used inappropriately or maliciously.
• See under ass.
• Pertaining to an ass; like an ass.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "asinine" derives from the Latin word "asinus", which means "donkey". The term "asinus" was used in Latin to describe actual donkeys, but it also became associated metaphorically with stupidity or foolishness due to the animal's reputation for being stubborn and unintelligent. Over time, the Latin word "asinus" evolved into the Late Latin word "asininus", which eventually entered the English language as "asinine" in the 17th century.
