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

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

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

Following the departure of Tom Baker in 1981, Doctor Who had started to take itself a little too seriously, perhaps as an antidote to Baker's increasing buffoonery during his seven years as the time lord. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Mar. 2026

Death by Lightning, adapted by Mike Makowsky from Candice Millard’s 2011 nonfiction book and directed by Matt Ross, hums with the strength of these performances, particularly Shannon’s quiet composure and Macfadyen mining new depths of buffoonery. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 1 Dec. 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