fool's gold

American  

noun

1. iron or copper pyrites, sometimes mistaken for gold.

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fool's gold British  

noun

1. any of various yellow minerals, esp pyrite or chalcopyrite, that can be mistaken for gold

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fool's gold Scientific  

/ fo̅o̅lz /

1. Any of several minerals, especially pyrite and chalcopyrite, sometimes mistaken for gold.

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Etymology

Origin of fool's gold

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fool's gold

The numbers: The trade deficit fell a few months ago to a 16-year low, but it was fool’s gold.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 29, 2026

While Venezuela’s mineral industry may turn out to be fool’s gold, the rest of the region could well be the golden goose investors are looking for.

From Barron's ● Jan. 9, 2026

It's a direct substitution of fool's gold for the real thing.

From Salon ● Nov. 14, 2024

Shiny iron sulfide, familiar to many Coloradans as fool's gold, or pyrite, is the most common of these sulfide minerals, but copper, zinc and other metal sulfides are also common.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 23, 2024

But the kitchen light sparked flecks of fool's gold stars, and out of the waves burst hand-painted shells, white and pink, the kind my mother loved.

From "We Are Okay" by Nina LaCour