bêtise
Americannoun
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lack of understanding, perception, or the like; stupidity.
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a stupid or foolish act or remark.
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something inconsequential or without merit; absurdity; trifle.
noun
Etymology
Origin of bêtise
1820–30; < French: literally, foolishness, equivalent to bête foolish ( see beast) + -ise -ice
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They know that the battle is decided by fate, personified in what they like to call la bêtise humaine – the sheer stupidity of other people.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 20, 2012
He remembered again that the flippant young Frenchman had said, "Un ancien curé, qui a fait quelque bêtise."
From The Wild Olive by Basil King
Ford had heard a flippant young Frenchman speak of him as an "ancien curé, qui a fait quelque bêtise"; and indeed there was about him that stamp of the ecclesiastic which is sometimes ineffaceable.
From The Wild Olive by Basil King
Hephzibah says he is good-natured, so perhaps that is why he made a bêtise in South America.
From The Reflections of Ambrosine A Novel by Elinor Glyn
Still, even that bêtise of mine need not prevent you from seeing some truth in my argument.
From April's Lady A Novel by Margaret Wolfe Hungerford
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
