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Definition of tomfoolery

tomfoolery

/ˌtɑːmˈfuːləri/
tom · fool · er · y
Plural:tomfooleries
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tomfoolery Lexical Profile

tomfoolery Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Foolish, silly, or playful behavior; nonsense or horseplay.

Example

"The teacher warned the students that she would not tolerate any tomfoolery during the science experiment."

2

Worthless, showy, or trivial ornaments; knickknacks or trumpery (often in plural).

Example

"The curiosity shop was cluttered with gaudy tomfooleries and cheap souvenirs from another era."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for tomfoolery

• Nearby Words

tomcod
tome
tomfool
tomfoolery
tomini tang
tommy
tomorrow

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived in the early 19th century from 'Tom Fool', a traditional stock character and generic nickname for a buffoon or simpleton since the 14th century, combined with the suffix '-ery'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tomfoolery. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tomfoolery
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