stupidity

American  

[stoo-pid-i-tee, styoo-] / stuˈpɪd ɪ ti, styu- /

noun

plural

stupidities

1. the state, quality, or fact of being stupid.

2. a stupid act, notion, speech, etc.

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stupidity British  

/ stjuːˈpɪdɪtɪ /

noun

1. the quality or state of being stupid

2. a stupid act, remark, etc

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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:

• ignorance vs. stupidity

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

Stupidity and deserves red all day long, especially when you're 2-0 down.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

You can't claim that "What We Do in the Shadows" has run out of creative ways to prove what Napoleon Bonaparte once said about politics: "Stupidity is not a handicap."

From Salon • Aug. 4, 2023

Having now read “The Stupidity of War” twice, I’m certain Mueller would have an answer to these questions and many more.

From Washington Post • Mar. 31, 2021

“We have written a song called Give Stupidity a Chance which is a satire. It’s close to a protest song, but it’s also funny.”

From The Guardian • Oct. 21, 2018

Stupidity was as necessary as intelligence, and as difficult to attain.

From "1984" by George Orwell

Related Words

• absurdity
• apathy
• idiocy
• ignorance
• lunacy
• nonsense
• silliness