English Reference

Word

folly

Phoneticsfol·ly, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈfɑɫi/

UK/fˈɒli/

Countable & uncountable

Definition

n. a very foolish action or a lack of good sense. It can also mean a decorative building in a garden that has no real purpose.

n. a lack of good sense or foresight; a foolish action, practice, or idea. In an architectural context, refers to a costly ornamental building with no practical purpose, often built in a large garden.

Examples

“It would be sheer folly to go out in this storm.”

“The king's decision to invade the neighboring country proved to be a costly folly that drained the national treasury.”

“The hillside is dotted with eighteenth-century follies, including a miniature Gothic tower that serves no purpose other than to provide a picturesque focal point for the estate's visitors.”

Examples

simple

“It would be sheer folly to go out in this storm.”

contextual

“The king's decision to invade the neighboring country proved to be a costly folly that drained the national treasury.”

complex

“The hillside is dotted with eighteenth-century follies, including a miniature Gothic tower that serves no purpose other than to provide a picturesque focal point for the estate's visitors.”

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the abstract quality of foolishness; countable when referring to a specific act or a decorative building.

Real-World Examples

“Embracing China at the exact moment the Americans view Beijing as their foremost economic and national-security rival is folly.”
Toronto Sun 17 Aug 2026
“Idris Elba plays a pointy-eared djinn in George Miller’s daft but captivating romantic folly.”
The Guardian 3 Sept 2026

Domain

Architecture

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
Frequency
Frequent
Level
C1 · Advanced
Updated

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English Reference