Meaning & Definition of word "Foolish"

Foolish

/ˈfuːlɪʃ/

adjective:

  • 1. Lacking good sense or judgment; unwise.
    • Example: It was foolish of him to invest all his savings in a single venture.
  • 2. Silly or lacking in seriousness.
    • Example: She made a foolish remark during the serious meeting.
  • 3. Characterized by a lack of intelligence; absurd.
    • Example: His foolish behavior at the party embarrassed his friends.
  • 4. Showing a lack of understanding or perception.
    • Example: 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.

Related Words

fool:

A person who acts unwisely or imprudently.

foolhardy:

Marked by blindly or recklessly bold behavior.

foolishness:

The state or quality of being foolish.

Slang Meanings of foolish

Meaning: Dumb move

Example Sentence: That was a dumb move to skip the meeting.

Meaning: Wild idea

Example Sentence: Trying to swim across the lake? That's a wild idea!