# silly

/ˈsɪɫi/ (US) · /sˈɪli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/silly
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. foolish or funny

adjective · CEFR A2

showing a lack of thought or being funny in a way that is not serious.

For teachers: exhibiting a lack of common sense or judgement; often used to describe behaviour that is playfully or harmlessly foolish.

- The children were making silly faces at each other during the long car ride.
- It was a silly mistake to leave the windows open while the sprinklers were running, but fortunately no permanent damage was done.

### 2. cricket position

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

in the game of cricket, a position for a player who stands very close to the person hitting the ball.

For teachers: denoting a fielding position located extremely close to the batsman, such as 'silly mid-on' or 'silly mid-off'.

- The captain moved a fielder into a silly position to put pressure on the batsman.
- Fielding in a silly position requires immense courage and sharp reflexes, as the player stands only a few feet from the striker's blade.

### 3. a foolish person

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

a person who is acting in a foolish or funny way.

For teachers: a person who behaves in a foolish or lighthearted manner; frequently used as a mild, affectionate term of address.

- Don't be such a silly; you know I was only joking about the spiders.
- The teacher gently chided the young student, calling him a 'silly' for trying to wear his sweater as a pair of trousers.

### 4. weak or pitiful

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary · Dialect · Archaic

describing someone who deserves pity or is very weak.

For teachers: evoking compassion or pity; historically related to being helpless or simple-minded.

- The old man looked like a silly creature, lost in the cold wind.
- In the older verses, the poet refers to the 'silly sheep' not to mock them, but to highlight their innocent and defenceless nature.

Teaching tip: This sense is rare in modern English and mostly found in older literature or specific regional dialects; learners should use 'foolish' for modern contexts.

## Examples

- Don't be silly, of course you can come with us.
- The children spent the entire afternoon making silly faces at each other in the mirror.
- While the proposal was dismissed by the board as a silly distraction, it actually contained the seeds of a very effective marketing strategy.

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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.