Foolishness
ˈfuːlɪʃnəs
Definitions
Lack of good sense or judgment; silliness.
ˈfuːlɪʃnəs
The state or quality of being foolish; lack of good sense or judgment.
His foolishness led him to make a poor investment.
💡 Simply: Imagine your friend trying to ride a bike without any training. If they keep falling over and thinking it's a good idea, that's a bit of 'foolishness'. It means doing something silly or not using good judgment!
👶 For kids: When you do something silly or don't think before you act, that's foolishness.
More Examples
The king was known for his tolerance of court jesters and his understanding of human foolishness.
She regretted the foolishness of her youthful decisions later in life.
How It's Used
"The politician's foolishness in making such a comment shocked his supporters."
"The novel explored the dangers of youthful foolishness and its consequences."
"Psychologists often study the patterns of human foolishness in decision-making."
Idioms & expressions
act the fool
To behave in a silly or foolish way.
"He started acting the fool at the party, telling jokes and dancing on the table."
make a fool of oneself
To behave in a way that makes you appear foolish or ridiculous.
"He made a fool of himself by trying to sing opera at the karaoke night."
From 'fool' + '-ish' (forming an adjective) + '-ness' (forming a noun). The word's development traces back to Old French 'fol', and ultimately to Latin 'follis' meaning 'bellows' or 'bag', metaphorically implying emptiness or lack of substance.
Used since the 14th century, often in religious and philosophical texts to describe actions contrary to wisdom or piety.