folly
[ fol-ee ]
/ ˈfɒl i /
noun, plural fol·lies for 2–6.
the state or quality of being foolish; lack of understanding or sense.
a foolish action, practice, idea, etc.; absurdity: the folly of performing without a rehearsal.
a costly and foolish undertaking; unwise investment or expenditure.
Architecture. a whimsical or extravagant structure built to serve as a conversation piece, lend interest to a view, commemorate a person or event, etc.: found especially in England in the 18th century.
follies, a theatrical revue.
Obsolete. wickedness; wantonness.
Words nearby folly
follower, followership, following, following bougie, followship, folly, folsom, folsom man, folsom point, folía, fomalhaut
Origin of folly
SYNONYMS FOR folly
OTHER WORDS FROM folly
su·per·fol·ly, noun, plural su·per·fol·lies.Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for follies
British Dictionary definitions for follies
folly
/ (ˈfɒlɪ) /
noun plural -lies
the state or quality of being foolish; stupidity; rashness
a foolish action, mistake, idea, etc
a building in the form of a castle, temple, etc, built to satisfy a fancy or conceit, often of an eccentric kind
(plural) theatre an elaborately costumed revue
archaic
- evil; wickedness
- lewdness; wantonness
Word Origin for folly
C13: from Old French folie madness, from fou mad; see fool 1
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