Silly

/ˈsɪli/

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.

Related Words

fool
A person who acts unwisely or imprudently; a silly person.
nonsense
Foolish or absurd behavior or ideas.
clown
A comedian; someone who acts silly or foolishly to entertain.

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.