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folly

0 antonyms and opposites of folly, grouped by meaning.

Noun — A foolish act or belief, especially one with serious or costly consequences.

How to use folly

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

sheer folly act of folly a garden folly

Etymology

From Old French folie ("madness"), from the adjective fol ("mad, foolish") — the same root that gives us "fool."

Full origin of folly →

Frequently asked questions

What does “folly” mean?

The word “folly” means a foolish act or belief, especially one with serious or costly consequences. In plain terms, a foolish, often costly mistake, or a purely decorative building built just for looks.

How do you pronounce “folly”?

“Folly” is pronounced FO-lee (/ˈfɑli/ in IPA).

How do you use “folly” in a sentence?

Here is “folly” used in a sentence: “Investing his entire savings in one stock was pure folly.”

What part of speech is “folly”?

“Folly” is a noun.

Where does the word “folly” come from?

The word “folly” comes from Old French. From Old French folie ("madness"), from the adjective fol ("mad, foolish") — the same root that gives us "fool.".

Is “folly” a common word?

“Folly” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “folly” have?

“Folly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a foolish act or belief, especially one with serious or costly consequences.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.