Meaning & Definition
noun
A silly person; someone lacking in seriousness.
He is such a silly, always joking around during meetings.
adjective
Having or showing a lack of common sense or judgment; absurd and foolish.
It was silly of her to think that she could run a marathon without any training.
Lacking seriousness or value; trivial.
The children's silly games brought laughter to the party.
Playfully frivolous or affectionate.
He made a silly face to make the baby giggle.
Etymology
Old English 'sælig', meaning 'happy' or 'blessed'; evolved to mean 'innocent' and later 'foolish'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
silly goose:
A playful term for someone who is being foolish or silly.
silly season:
A period of time when news is less serious or significant, often filled with lighthearted stories.
silly string:
A novelty aerosol product that sprays out a stream of colored string.
Slang Meanings
Airhead
Don't be such an airhead; that idea won't work.
Goofball
He's such a goofball when he gets around his friends.
Dipstick
Only a dipstick would do something that reckless.