plural fools
1
: a person lacking in judgment or prudence
Only a fool would ride a motorcycle without wearing a helmet.
2
a
: a retainer (see retainer entry 1 sense 1) formerly kept in great households to provide casual entertainment and commonly dressed in motley with cap, bells, and bauble
3
a
: a person lacking in common powers of understanding or reason
b
: one with a marked propensity or fondness for something
a dancing fool
a fool for candy
4
: a cold dessert of pureed fruit mixed with whipped cream or custard
fooled; fooling; fools
1
a
: to behave foolishly
told the children to stop their fooling
see also fool around
b
: to meddle, tamper, or experiment especially thoughtlessly or ignorantly
Don't fool with that drill.
see also fool around with
2
a
: to play or improvise a comic role
b
: to speak in jest : joke
I was only fooling
3
: to contend or fight without serious intent or with less than full strength : toy
a dangerous man to fool with
Examples of fool in a Sentence
Noun
those fools who ride motorcycles without wearing helmets
Only a fool would ask such a silly question.
You'd be a fool to believe what he tells you.
You're making yourself look like a fool.
Adjective
The dog was barking its fool head off.
Some fool driver kept trying to pass me!
Verb
When she first told us that she was getting married, we thought she was fooling.
His disguise didn't fool anybody.
He really had me fooled.
Stop fooling yourself—she doesn't really love you.
Recent Examples on the Web
Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2025
The Lakers’ No. 1 defense over a 24-game stretch from mid-January through early March was fool’s gold, with Hayes’ play being the most unsustainable part.
—The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 1 May 2025
Rather than get stuck in or fooled by the appearance of things, this principle reminded us to sense their energetic underpinnings, such as clarity and intention.
—Ginny Whitelaw, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for fool
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.
Noun
Presidents fought an undeclared war against Afghanistan for two decades costing $2.3 trillion on a fool’s errand concluding in a defeat by the Taliban.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2025
The Lakers’ No. 1 defense over a 24-game stretch from mid-January through early March was fool’s gold, with Hayes’ play being the most unsustainable part.
—The Athletic Nba Staff, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Verb
Don’t be fooled by the context of what is said: the basis for the drama is jealousy and control.
—Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 1 May 2025
Rather than get stuck in or fooled by the appearance of things, this principle reminded us to sense their energetic underpinnings, such as clarity and intention.
—Ginny Whitelaw, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for fool
Cite this Entry
“Fool.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fool. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fool
1 of 2 noun1
: a person who lacks good sense or judgment
2
: a person formerly kept in a noble or royal household to amuse with jests and pranks
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share