noun
-
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.
"It shows the stupidity of the declassification process without historical knowledge," Zala believes.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
It really showcases her talent for the English language by fitting so much cruelty and stupidity into just six words.
From Salon • May 11, 2026
And not just because one of the leading contestants torched himself and his political livelihood in a bonfire of hubris and stupidity.
From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2026
‘Without commenting on my obvious stupidity, how do I recover from this?’
From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026
Hated his stupidity for sailing so far out before the storm took him.
From "The Voyage Of The Frog" by Gary Paulsen
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.
