noun
tomfoolery
tom-FOO-luh-ree
Tomfoolery (noun) means Silly or foolish behaviour; playful nonsense. Example: “The teacher had no patience for tomfoolery during the exam.”
noun
1
Silly or foolish behaviour; playful nonsense.
"The teacher had no patience for tomfoolery during the exam."
"Enough tomfoolery — we need to get this finished."
How to use tomfoolery
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSilly messing about, usually harmless.
Common pairings
no more tomfoolery
a bit of tomfoolery
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like tomfoolery.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- tomfooleries
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The teacher had no patience for _____ during the exam.
Etymology
From "Tom" (used generically for an ordinary man) plus "foolery."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for tomfoolery
See all rhymes for tomfoolery →Frequently asked questions
What does “tomfoolery” mean?
The word “tomfoolery” means silly or foolish behaviour; playful nonsense. In plain terms, silly messing about, usually harmless.
How do you pronounce “tomfoolery”?
“Tomfoolery” is pronounced tom-FOO-luh-ree (/ˈtɑmˌful.ɚ.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “tomfoolery” in a sentence?
Here is “tomfoolery” used in a sentence: “The teacher had no patience for tomfoolery during the exam.”
What part of speech is “tomfoolery”?
“Tomfoolery” is a noun.
