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
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
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
Situated between a residential home and a pastoral western garden, the folly serves as both a literal and symbolic gateway.
—
New Atlas, 25 June 2025
As a result, even if the Supreme Court rules that the Administration has exceeded its authority, the current tariff follies will likely persist.
—Wayne Winegarden, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Mulaney, in a similar vein, seems to be either forever mocking Netflix for this folly or still trying to sell the premise of the show, even as the network pours in however many millions already committed.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025
And now he’s left us, when once again brutality is massing behind its shields, and once again compassion has acquired the nobility of true folly.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for folly
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
New Atlas, 25 June 2025
As a result, even if the Supreme Court rules that the Administration has exceeded its authority, the current tariff follies will likely persist.
—Wayne Winegarden, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Mulaney, in a similar vein, seems to be either forever mocking Netflix for this folly or still trying to sell the premise of the show, even as the network pours in however many millions already committed.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2025
And now he’s left us, when once again brutality is massing behind its shields, and once again compassion has acquired the nobility of true folly.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for folly
Cite this Entry
“Folly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/folly. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share