folly

noun

fol·​ly ˈfä-lē 

plural follies

1

: lack of good sense or normal prudence and foresight

his folly in thinking he could not be caught

2

a

: criminally or tragically foolish actions or conduct

b

obsolete : evil, wickedness

especially : lewd behavior

3

: a foolish act or idea

The prank was a youthful folly.

4

: an excessively costly or unprofitable undertaking

Paying so much for that land was folly, since it was all rocks and scrub trees.

5

: an often extravagant picturesque building erected to suit a fanciful taste

Synonyms

• absurdity
• asininity
• bêtise
• fatuity
• foolery
• foppery
• idiocy
• imbecility
• inanity
• insanity
• lunacy
• stupidity

Examples of folly in a Sentence

the folly of driving fast on steep, winding roads

his folly in thinking that he would not be noticed

The folly of such an action should be apparent to everyone.

the follies of the modern world

the famous Ziegfeld Follies of the 1920s

Recent Examples on the Web

At least All About Eve helped us to see that showbiz folly was based in private neuroses. —Armond White, National Review, 29 Mar. 2024

None of the authors or participants in this extravagant folly have been demoted or lost political standing or stature. —Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 2 Feb. 2024

As many in the scientific community advocate to expand the U.S. breeding of nonhuman primates for research, Bright dismisses the idea as strategic folly. —Erika Fry, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2024

This baby’s coming one way or another, and the folly of trying to squeeze in a sushi feast as the contractions accelerate makes for an unforgettably original and howlingly funny sequence. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 10 Mar. 2024

That should underscore the indescribable folly of the anti-vaccine campaigning by Trump and Kennedy. —Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024

Featuring great performances from the likes of James Franco and his brother, Dave, as well as Seth Rogen and Alison Brie, The Disaster Artist explores the fine line between genius and folly during one man’s relentless pursuit of a dream—no matter how outlandish that dream seems. —Travis Bean, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024

The court recognized the folly of New York’s claim and dismissed the case. —Ed Hirs, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024

Either way, Zelenskyy’s insightful words about the short-sighted folly of Russia’s invasion and awed praise for Ukrainians’ strength of character, expressed in English that gets more fluent every month, will do no harm to his reputation. —Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English folie, from Anglo-French, from fol fool

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

folly

noun

fol·​ly ˈfäl-ē 

plural follies

1

: lack of good sense or judgment

2

: foolish behavior

3

: a foolish act or idea