# daft

/ˈdæft/ (US) · /dˈɑːft/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/daft
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. silly or foolish

adjective · CEFR B1 · British English · Informal

silly or not very sensible.

For teachers: characterised by a lack of good sense or judgement; foolish in a harmless or amusing way.

- It was a bit daft of me to leave my umbrella at home when it was cloudy.
- The manager admitted it was a daft mistake to schedule the outdoor event during the peak of the rainy season.

Usage: Often used with 'of' when describing an action, as in 'it was daft of him to...'.

Teaching tip: This is a very common everyday word in the UK; it is usually lighthearted and less offensive than calling someone 'stupid'.

### 2. crazy or insane

adjective · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

acting in a way that seems crazy or very strange.

For teachers: behaving in a manner that suggests mental instability or extreme eccentricity.

- He must be daft if he thinks he can swim across that freezing lake.
- The locals thought the old man was slightly daft because he spent all day talking to the birds in the park.

Teaching tip: While it can mean 'insane', it is typically used for eccentric behaviour rather than clinical mental illness.

## Examples

- That was a daft idea.
- He wore shorts in the snow, which was quite daft.
- The committee dismissed the proposal as daft, ignoring the subtle economic shifts that made it surprisingly viable.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.