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silly season

American

noun

a time of year, usually in midsummer or during a holiday period, characterized by exaggerated news stories, frivolous entertainments, outlandish publicity stunts, etc..

The new movie reminds us that the silly season is here.

silly season British

noun

a period, usually during the hot summer months, when journalists fill space reporting on frivolous events and activities

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of silly season

First recorded in 1870–75

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.

See Examples For:

silly season

The Department of Conservation reported this weekend a 200 percent increase in sightings on land around Wellington, local media said, describing it as "seal silly season".

From Barron's ● Sep. 28, 2026

Rossi was tight-lipped during Indianapolis 500 media day Thursday while discussing a rash of pranks that have turned May into silly season inside the paddock leading into “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

From Seattle Times ● May 26, 2022

The app in its present form can dovetail into silly season, but it’s mostly harmless fun.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 16, 2022

Mr Blackford himself told BBC Scotland that it was "like silly season has arrived early".

From BBC ● Mar. 10, 2022

It was in the silly season, and a prominent editor, a cousin of the temporary laboratory-assistant, appealed to the conscience of the nation.

From The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023