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

Zuriff was responsible for previous iterations of 'The Match' - televised silly season clashes for cash.

From BBC ● Dec. 16, 2024

The silly season in college football, that time when coaches get fired and hired, seems to never stop.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 14, 2023

Players were interested in the silly season only when they got money up front.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 15, 2022

With the approach of the silly season one’s thoughts turn naturally to the prospect of stealing into print and enjoying all the sweets of authorship without the reception of a cheque to vulgarise them.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 147, July 29, 1914 by Various

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