What does foolish mean Meaning and Definition
What does foolish mean
Pronunciation
/ˈfool. ɪʃ meɪn/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A lack of good sense or judgment; silly or absurd behavior.
Examples
- The decision to invest all of their savings in a single stock was a foolish move.
- The comedian’s foolish jokes had the audience in stitches.
Synonyms
- Silly
- Ridiculous
- Addle-headed
Antonyms
- Wise
- Sensible
- Judicious
Etymology
The word “foolish” comes from the Old English word “folmōl”, meaning “feeble-minded” or “dim-witted”.
Usage Notes
When using the word “foolish”, it’s important to distinguish between intentional foolishness (e.g. a funny joke) and unintentional foolishness (e.g. a careless mistake).
Cultural References
What does foolish mean is a common phrase used in various forms of media, including movies, TV shows, and books.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
Nothing ventured, nothing gained; all’s well that ends well.
Related Words or Phrases
Simple-minded, dim-witted, foolishness, absurdity, silliness.
Collocations
What does foolish mean, but not for long; very foolish, extremely foolish, highly foolish.
Frequency of Use
The word “foolish” is commonly used in everyday language, with a frequency rating of 2.14 on the Corpus of Contemporary American English.
Common Misspellings
fooles, foolis, foolishly.