buffoonery

noun

buf·​foon·​ery (ˌ)bə-ˈfü-nə-rē 

-ˈfün-rē

plural buffooneries

: foolish or playful behavior or practice

Synonyms of buffoonery

• clowning
• joking
• tomfoolery
• clownery
• funning
• horseplay
• foolery
• monkeying
• slapstick
• playfulness
• skylarking
• roughhousing
• monkey business
• high jinks
• silliness

Examples of buffoonery in a Sentence

their madcap buffoonery turned the duo into the nation's hottest comedy act

Recent Examples on the Web

Receivers have cratered seasons with me-over-we buffoonery. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2026

The show, with its interest in corporate buffoonery, doesn’t quite manage to hand-wave away the queasy implications. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026

His comic material, drawn mainly from perceptive observations of everyday life, might not be broad enough buffoonery for the movies. — CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026

Since medieval times, the colorful fool—from court jesters to Shakespeare’s characters—has used playful wit to critique authority and buffoonery to whip up excitement. — Time, 30 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1621, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

buffoonery

noun

buf·​foon·​ery (ˌ)bə-ˈfün-(ə-)rē 

plural buffoonerries

: foolish or playful behavior