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bêtise

[ be-teez ]
/ bɛˈtiz /
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noun
lack of understanding, perception, or the like; stupidity.
a stupid or foolish act or remark.
something inconsequential or without merit; absurdity; trifle.
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Origin of bêtise

1820–30; <French: literally, foolishness, equivalent to bête foolish (see beast) + -ise-ice

Words nearby bêtise

Beth Shammai, Bethune, Bethune, Mary McLeod, betide, betimes, bêtise, Betjeman, to blame, be, betoken, bet one's ass, bet on the wrong horse
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bêtise in a sentence

  • Frankly—I would put it at such moments—he becomes at last an optical bore or betise.

    Italian Hours|Henry James

  • We should get no clothes fit to wear next week if we committed such a betise.

    Airy Fairy Lilian|Margaret Wolfe Hamilton (AKA Duchess)

  • He immediately stopped his pursuit, exclaiming with a shrug: "Ah quelle betise!"

    Molly Brown's Orchard Home|Nell Speed

British Dictionary definitions for bêtise

bêtise
/ (bɛˈtiːz) /
noun
rare folly or lack of perception

Word Origin for bêtise

French, from bête foolish, from bête (n) stupid person, beast
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
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