noun A2 Elementary Common

fool

Fool (noun) means a person who acts or thinks without good sense or judgment. Example: “Only a fool would invest his life savings without doing any research.”

noun

A person who acts or thinks without good sense or judgment.

"Only a fool would invest his life savings without doing any research."

"Don't be a fool — read the contract before you sign it."

Historically, a jester employed to entertain a royal court.

"The king's fool was the only one allowed to mock him openly."

A British dessert made of pureed fruit folded into cream or custard.

"We had gooseberry fool for pudding."

verb

To trick or deceive someone.

"The scammer fooled dozens of people out of their savings."

"You can't fool me twice with the same excuse."

How to use fool

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone who lacks good judgment, or the act of deceiving someone; also a fruity British dessert.

Common mistake

The dessert sense is unrelated to the "silly person" sense in most people's minds, though both trace back to the same word.

Common pairings

make a fool of fool around nobody's fool

Word forms

fooler comparative, more fool comparative, fooled past tense, fools plural, fools plural, fools singular, foolest superlative, most fool superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

Only a _____ would invest his life savings without doing any research.

Etymology

From Old French fol, "mad," ultimately from Latin follis, "bellows" or "bag of air" — the idea being a fool is all wind, no substance.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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simpleton jester alcatote bayard berk birdbrain blither bobchin bonehead bozo buffoon brickhead

Antonyms

sage

Related words

guy serious simple joke wise idiot elder jerk

Rhymes for fool

cool wool tool pool kool spool stool drool school uncool carpool cesspool

See all rhymes for fool →

Frequently asked questions

What does “fool” mean?

The word “fool” means a person who acts or thinks without good sense or judgment. In plain terms, someone who lacks good judgment, or the act of deceiving someone; also a fruity British dessert.

How do you pronounce “fool”?

“Fool” is pronounced fool (/fuːl/ in IPA).

How do you use “fool” in a sentence?

Here is “fool” used in a sentence: “Only a fool would invest his life savings without doing any research.”

What is another word for “fool”?

Words with a similar meaning to “fool” include alcatote, asshat, bayard, berk, birdbrain and blither.

What is the opposite of “fool”?

The opposite of “fool” — its antonyms — is sage.

What part of speech is “fool”?

Depending on how it is used, “fool” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “fool” come from?

The word “fool” comes from Latin. From Old French fol, "mad," ultimately from Latin follis, "bellows" or "bag of air" — the idea being a fool is all wind, no substance.

Is “fool” a common word?

“Fool” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

What is the difference between 'fool' and 'idiot'?

Both describe a person lacking good sense, but 'fool' often focuses on foolish behaviour or poor judgment, while 'idiot' is harsher and directly attacks intelligence. 'Fool' can also be used lightly or affectionately, which 'idiot' rarely is.

What was a 'fool' in a royal court?

Historically, a 'fool' was a jester employed to entertain a royal court with jokes, songs, and antics. Court fools were sometimes permitted to mock powerful people in ways others could not.

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