adjective
silly
SIHL-ee
adjective
1
Foolish or lacking good sense; done or said in a way that invites laughter.
"It was silly to leave the windows open during the storm."
"They spent the evening making silly faces for the camera."
noun
1
(informal) A foolish person, often used affectionately.
"You forgot your keys again, you silly!"
How to Use Silly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFoolish, or acting in a foolish and often amusing way.
Memory tip
Calling someone "silly" is usually mild and affectionate, not a harsh insult like "stupid."
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
silly mistake
silly question
act silly
silly billy
Word Forms
sillier comparative, sillier comparative, sillies plural, silliest superlative, silliest superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “silly”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was _____ to leave the windows open during the storm.
Etymology
From Old English sælig, "lucky, blessed" — the meaning drifted over centuries from "blessed" to "innocent" to "simple" and finally to today's "foolish," a similar journey to the word "daft."