# foolish

/ˈfuɫɪʃ/ (US) · /fˈuːlɪʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/foolish
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. unwise or lacking judgement

adjective · CEFR B1

acting without good sense or making a choice that is not smart.

For teachers: demonstrating a lack of good judgement or prudence; often used to describe specific actions or decisions that lead to negative consequences.

- It would be foolish to go outside in the storm without a coat.
- The investors realized too late that it was foolish to commit so much capital to a project with no clear path to profitability.

### 2. ridiculous or like a fool

adjective · CEFR B2

looking or acting silly in a way that makes people laugh or feel embarrassed.

For teachers: resembling or characteristic of a fool; often used when someone feels embarrassed or looks ridiculous to others.

- He felt foolish when he realized he was wearing two different shoes.
- She felt incredibly foolish standing on the stage after forgetting the opening lines of her presentation.

## Examples

- It was foolish to leave the car unlocked in the city.
- Investing all of your savings into a single unproven company is a foolish financial move.
- The explorer realized too late that his foolish disregard for the local weather patterns would likely jeopardize the entire mission's success.

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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.