foolish
FOO-lish
/ˈfuː.lɪʃ/
Lacking good sense or judgment; unwise.
Broadest, most accessible term in the group; covers minor silly acts as well as major errors in judgment.
The story behind the word. Traces back to Latin 'follis', meaning a leather bag or pair of bellows. In Vulgar Latin, 'follis' came to mean a 'puffing windbag' or an empty-headed jester, which passed into Old French as 'fol' and eventually into English as 'fool'.
Word relationships
- silly: Silly is lighthearted or juvenile; foolish carries stronger judgment regarding lack of sense.
- imprudent: Imprudent is formal and focuses on future consequences; foolish covers general bad sense.
- wise: Wise indicates deep understanding, experience, and good sense.
- sensible: Sensible means having or showing good sense and judgment.
Commonly confused with
- foolhardy: Foolish means lacking wisdom; foolhardy specifically means recklessly bold or dangerously daring.
Word family
- fool (noun): A person who lacks good sense.
- foolishness (noun): The state or quality of being foolish.
- foolishly (adverb): In a foolish manner.
Collocations
- feel foolish
- foolish mistake
- foolish pride
- foolish idea
Idioms & expressions
- penny wise and pound foolish
Example sentences
- "It is foolish to make promises you know you cannot keep." Classic Quotation
- "She felt foolish after walking into the wrong classroom on the first day of university." Personal experience
Memory hook
A FOOL is like a bag full of AIR (follis)—empty inside and full of foolish noise. Lacking wisdom.
When not to use
Avoid in advanced academic essays when more specific terms like 'fatuous' or 'imprudent' fit better.
Fun facts
- In Shakespearean drama, the 'Fool' was often the wisest character on stage, speaking truth to powerful kings.
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