Folly

/ˈfɒli/

Meaning & Definition

noun

lack of good sense; foolishness.

It was pure folly to invest all her savings in that risky venture.

a foolish act or idea.

His decision to quit his job without any plan was a folly.

an act or instance of foolishness.

The folly of youth often leads to mistakes that one learns from later.

a useless or impractical idea.

Building a bridge to nowhere was deemed a folly by many in the community.

a whimsical or extravagant structure, such as a decorative building.

The garden was adorned with a folly that resembled a medieval castle.

Middle English from Old French 'folie', from 'fol', meaning 'foolish'.

fool's folly

A foolish act or decision made by someone perceived as naïve.

a folly of youth

The reckless or ill-advised actions taken by young people.

political folly

Poor decisions made in politics that lead to negative outcomes.

fool

A person who acts unwisely or imprudently.

foolish

Having or showing a lack of good sense or judgment.

folly's end

A state in which foolishness has been recognized and corrected.

Making a foolish mistake.

That was a total folly, man.

Acting without thinking, usually leading to trouble.

He always gets in trouble; it's just one folly after another.