# foolishness

/ˈfuɫɪʃnəs/ (US) · /fˈuːlɪʃnəs/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/foolishness
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

the quality of being silly or not showing good judgment. It can also mean a stupid act or a lack of wisdom.

For teachers: the quality of lacking good sense or judgement; unwise or imprudent behaviour. Refers to both the abstract state of being unwise and specific instances of silly actions.

## Examples

- His foolishness cost him a lot of money.
- The manager regretted the foolishness of ignoring the early warning signs before the project failed.
- While some dismissed his risky investment as pure foolishness, others saw it as a calculated gamble that simply failed to account for an unpredictable market shift.

## Usage notes

- Often used with the preposition 'of' to describe a specific person's lack of judgement.

---

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.