English Reference
Noun

silliness

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈsɪɫinəs/ UK /sˈɪlinəs/ silli·ness UK spelling sillinesses

n.the quality of being silly or acting in a way that is not serious. It describes behavior that is playful, foolish, or lacks common sense.

n.the quality or state of being silly; behavior or speech that is foolish, absurd, or lacking in seriousness. Often used to describe a playful or lighthearted mood.


SIMPLE

The children's silliness kept everyone laughing all afternoon.

CONTEXTUAL

After a long week of serious meetings, the team enjoyed a bit of silliness during the Friday afternoon game.

COMPLEX

While some critics dismissed the film's silliness as a failure of taste, others argued that the exaggerated humor was precisely what made the story so accessible to a younger audience.

The goal for the performances is sincerity rather than silliness.

The Guardian· 18 Aug 2026

From silly + -ness.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated