Pronunciation: [lˈɔ͡ɪtəɹɪŋ] (IPA) 
Loitering is spelled with two O's, a T, an E, an R, an I, an N, and a G - /ˈlɔɪ.tər.ɪŋ/. The first O is pronounced as a diphthong, /ɔɪ/, which can be heard in words like "voice" and "toy". The second O is a short vowel sound, pronounced as /ə/, similar to the sound in "sofa". The double T is pronounced as a stop consonant, /t/, and the final consonant cluster "ing" is pronounced as a nasal with a soft G sound, /ɪŋ/.
Loitering refers to the act of lingering or standing idly in a public place without any apparent purpose or business. It involves lingering for an extended period, typically without any reason or intention to move along quickly. Loitering often entails remaining in a particular location or wandering aimlessly without any clear objective or lawful activity. It may involve lingering in parks, sidewalks, or other public spaces without engaging in any specific tasks or errands.
The behavior of loitering can vary widely and may include activities such as hanging around with no particular destination, staying in one place without apparent intent, or continuously walking without a clear direction. Often, loitering is associated with individuals who are not actively engaged in any productive or lawful actions.
The legality of loitering can be subject to local ordinances or laws, as some places have imposed regulations to restrict this behavior in certain public areas. The intent behind such regulations is to ensure public safety, discourage criminal activities, or maintain an orderly environment in public spaces. In some cases, law enforcement officials may intervene or question individuals who are loitering in certain restricted areas to ascertain their purpose and maintain public order. However, it is important to note that loitering itself is not necessarily a criminal offense, unless specific regulations or restrictions are in place and violated.
Lingering; moving slowly.
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 "loitering" originated in the early 15th century and is derived from the Old English word "loter" or "luter", which meant "idle or lazy person". This Old English term can be traced back to the Middle Low German word "loteren", meaning "to wander or loiter". Eventually, the word "loiter" came into existence in Middle English, combining the sense of idleness and wandering. Over time, the suffix "-ing" was added to form the present participle "loitering", referring to the act of lingering or remaining in a place without specific purpose or reason.
