Indolent means lazy in a way that involves habitually avoiding effort and activity. An indolent person would rather lie around doing nothing than tackle their responsibilities or challenges, choosing inactivity as a way of life rather than as occasional rest.

The word suggests someone who could be doing something useful but chooses inactivity instead. An indolent student might skip homework night after night, not because they're tired from sports practice, but simply because they can't be bothered to try. An indolent worker might dodge assignments and let others pick up the slack.

Indolent is different from merely tired or taking a well-earned rest. After running a marathon, you're exhausted and need recovery. That's not indolence. But if you regularly avoid mowing the lawn, cleaning your room, or helping with chores simply because you'd rather do nothing, that indolent behavior will catch up with you.

In medical contexts, the word can describe something that develops slowly or causes little pain, like an indolent infection, but this meaning is less common.