folly
FO-lee
Folly (noun) means a foolish act or belief, especially one with serious or costly consequences. Example: “Investing his entire savings in one stock was pure folly.”
noun
1
A foolish act or belief, especially one with serious or costly consequences.
"Investing his entire savings in one stock was pure folly."
"History remembers the war as a tragic folly."
2
An elaborate, purely decorative building constructed for visual effect rather than practical use.
"The estate had a stone folly built to look like a ruined tower."
How to use folly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA foolish, often costly mistake, or a purely decorative building built just for looks.
Common pairings
sheer folly
act of folly
a garden folly
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Word forms
- Plural
- follies
- Third person singular
- follies
- Past tense
- follied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Investing his entire savings in one stock was pure _____.
Etymology
From Old French folie ("madness"), from the adjective fol ("mad, foolish") — the same root that gives us "fool."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for folly
See all rhymes for 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.
