folly
11 synonyms and 1 antonym for folly, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A foolish act or belief, especially one with serious or costly consequences.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
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.
