# folly

/ˈfɑɫi/ (US) · /fˈɒli/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/folly
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

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

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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.