foolery

IPA/ˈfuː.lər.i/
KK[fˈulɚi]IPA/ˈfuː.lɚ.i/

foolery — noun

1. silly or stupid actions, words, or games that people do for fun, but that can al

1.nounB2
Definition

silly or stupid actions, words, or games that people do for fun, but that can also cause trouble or annoy others

Example

Tamar told the children to stop their foolery and finish their homework.

stop + foolery — telling someone to end silly behaviour

The audience laughed at the clown's foolery during the show.

Common collocations
  • stop the foolery
  • cut out the foolery
  • such foolery
  • all this foolery
Synonyms
  • foolishness

    more about the quality of being foolish rather than the specific silly acts

  • silliness

    lighter, less disapproving in tone; can refer to childish behaviour without the same negative weight

  • nonsense

    broader meaning; can cover both silly talk and behaviour; often used as an exclamation

Antonyms
  • seriousness

    the quality of being thoughtful and not joking around

  • maturity

    sensible adult behaviour, the opposite of childish foolery

Grammar Patterns

foolery + verb (singular)

Usage Note

Less common than words like 'foolishness' or 'silliness'. Often carries a slightly disapproving tone, especially when an adult tells children or teammates to stop the foolery.

Common Mistakes

His foolery made everyone respect him more.
His foolishness made everyone respect him more.
'foolery' refers to the silly actions themselves, not the quality of being a fool.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Foolery, foolishness, silliness, nonsense, and stupidity all relate to unwise behaviour, but they differ in scope and tone. Foolery (B2, less common) points to the actual silly actions or words — what someone does or says. Foolishness (B1) covers the quality or state of being unwise: 'His foolishness led him to invest all his savings in a single company.' Silliness (B1) is lighter and more affectionate, often used for playful childish behaviour. Nonsense (B1) can mean silly talk ('Don't talk nonsense!'), but also ideas that are not logical. Stupidity (B2) is stronger and more insulting, suggesting a lack of basic intelligence rather than just playful misbehaviour. In a classroom, a teacher might tell students to 'cut out the foolery' (the noisy, silly actions), but would call a wrong answer 'nonsense' (an illogical idea).

foolishness ↗silliness ↗nonsense ↗stupidity ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • stop the foolery
  • cut out the foolery
  • all this foolery
  • such foolery

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Foolery was formed in English by adding the suffix -ery to 'fool'. The word 'fool' entered English from Old French 'fol', meaning 'mad person' or 'insane person'. That French word came from Latin 'follis', which originally meant 'bellows' or 'leather bag' — an ancient metaphor for an empty, wind-filled head.

First known use

1562

1562, in the meaning defined at sense 1