tomfoolery
Americannoun
-
foolish or silly behavior; tomfoolishness.
- Synonyms:
- monkeyshine, horseplay, silliness, foolishness
-
a silly act, matter, or thing.
noun
-
foolish behaviour
-
utter nonsense; rubbish
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tomfoolery
Explanation
Tomfoolery is foolishness. Starting a food fight in a cafeteria is an example of tomfoolery. Tomfoolery is a silly-looking word, and it means a silly thing: foolish or ridiculous behavior. Tomfoolery is senseless behavior, like pulling pranks or being obnoxious. If a bunch of students in class keep talking and laughing, the teacher might yell "Stop your tomfoolery!" Tomfoolery can be annoying to others, but it's usually not serious. Committing a crime is a lot worse than tomfoolery. Tomfoolery is more like goofing around or being a clown.
Vocabulary lists containing tomfoolery
Pygmalion
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Fast Pitch
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Slay
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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.
That doesn’t happen until Act 4, but at the earlier finale, full of tomfoolery, the stage is well set for depth in a way not dissimilar to “Falstaff.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026
Lacking immediate options, Bea succumbs to Christy’s latest tomfoolery.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 7, 2026
He told the court this was a case of "skylarking and tomfoolery" that had "gone awry".
From BBC • Nov. 9, 2023
It’s an inspired piece of comic acting, and a reminder that the serious-minded performer was just as comfortable with broad, “Saturday Night Live”-style tomfoolery.
From New York Times • Apr. 25, 2023
When Jean Louise felt apprehensive, expectant, or on edge, especially when confronting her aunt, her brain clicked to the meter of Gilbertian tomfoolery.
From "Go Set a Watchman: A Novel" by Harper Lee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
