Meaning & Definition
adjective
Lacking good sense or judgment; unwise.
It was foolish of him to invest all his savings in a single venture.
Silly or lacking in seriousness.
She made a foolish remark during the serious meeting.
Characterized by a lack of intelligence; absurd.
His foolish behavior at the party embarrassed his friends.
Showing a lack of understanding or perception.
The foolish choice to ignore the warning signs led to serious consequences.
Etymology
Middle English folish, from folk + -ish; related to fool.
Common Phrases and Expressions
foolish mistake:
A mistake made due to lack of judgment.
foolish pride:
An excessive pride that prevents one from admitting mistakes.
foolish of someone:
Describing someone acting without good sense.
Slang Meanings
Dumb move
That was a dumb move to skip the meeting.
Wild idea
Trying to swim across the lake? That's a wild idea!