Word
silliness
Phoneticssilli·ness
US/ˈsɪɫinəs/
UK/sˈɪlinəs/
Uncountable noun
Definition
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.
Examples
“The children's silliness kept everyone laughing all afternoon.”
“After a long week of serious meetings, the team enjoyed a bit of silliness during the Friday afternoon game.”
“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.”
Examples
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.”
Real-World Examples
“The goal for the performances is sincerity rather than silliness.” “There’s a cheek, a mischief; he’s “playing” with us, he admits, with the silliness of it all.” Etymology
From silly + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/silliness