folly
folly Lexical Profile
folly Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A lack of good sense, foresight, or prudence; foolishness.
"Historians often point to the campaign as an example of political folly and overconfidence."
A foolish, misguided, or self-destructive act, idea, or enterprise.
"Investing their entire savings into an untested venture proved to be a costly folly."
A costly ornamental building with no practical purpose, especially a tower or mock-Gothic ruin built in a large garden or park.
"At the edge of the estate stood an eighteenth-century folly designed to resemble a classical Roman temple."
An elaborate theatrical revue consisting of music, dance, and skits (usually used in the plural).
"The historic theater was famous for staging lavish musical follies throughout the 1920s."
• Rhymes for folly
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Old French 'folie' (meaning 'madness' or 'foolishness'), derived from 'fol' ('fool, madman'), which ultimately comes from Late Latin 'follis' ('bellows, windbag', used colloquially to mean an empty-headed person).