noun
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the quality or state of being stupid
-
a stupid act, remark, etc
Etymology
Origin of stupidity
1535–45; < Latin stupiditās, equivalent to stupid ( us ) stupid + -itās -ity
Compare meaning
How does stupidity compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Stupidity is the quality of being stupid. It’s the opposite of intelligence. Stupidity is responsible for many acts that follow the words, “Hey, watch this!” Being stupid has to do with not understanding things, not learning from past experiences, and generally not using your brain, so stupidity refers to this quality. Saying that someone did something because of stupidity is an insult because it means the person really should’ve known better. Riding in a shopping cart tied to the back of a car and zinging around a parking lot would be the result of some serious stupidity.
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.
‘Without commenting on my obvious stupidity, how do I recover from this?’
From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026
China’s Mao Zedong forced party officials to give self-corrective monologues in which they asked forgiveness for their own stupidity and failing to follow his wise leadership.
From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026
As to the famous fine line between stupid and clever, the stupidity and the cleverness are all but inextricable, and to the point.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026
One user's comment on the Licola Caravan Park & General Store official Facebook page says: "People rely on the store in town, and closing in the middle of peak season is stupidity at its best."
From BBC • Jan. 30, 2026
“Hey,” I said, continuing my journey into stupidity, “Do any of you guys know my home phone number? I think it’s got a twenty-four in it, too.”
From "Winger" by Andrew Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
