lack of good sense or judgement; foolishness, a costly ornamental building with no practical purpose, especially a tower or mock-Gothic ruin built in a large garden or park

make a folly of oneself, throw caution to the wind(s), play with fire

dance of folly, tower of folly, folly of youth

Formal and Informal Expressions of folly

In different contexts, you can replace 'folly' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'foolishness, imprudence' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'stupidity, recklessness' is a commonplace synonym.

folly: Explore its Definition & Usage

folly Definition

1lack of good sense or judgement; foolishness
2a costly ornamental building with no practical purpose, especially a tower or mock-Gothic ruin built in a large garden or park

Using folly: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "folly" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
It would be folly to ignore the warnings.
Example
The decision was seen as a great folly.
Example
The castle was a folly built by a wealthy eccentric.
Example
The idea of starting a business during a pandemic seemed like sheer folly.

folly Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for folly

Antonyms for folly

Idioms Using folly

make a folly of oneself
to behave in a way that makes one look foolish or ridiculous
Example
He made a folly of himself by trying to impress his date with his terrible jokes.
throw caution to the wind(s)
to take a risk without worrying about the possible consequences
Example
She decided to throw caution to the wind and quit her job to pursue her passion.
play with fire
to do something that is very risky or dangerous
Example
He knew that investing all his savings in the stock market was playing with fire, but he did it anyway.

Phrases with folly

dance of folly
a situation where people continue to do something that is clearly foolish or dangerous
Example
The dance of folly continued as people ignored the warnings and partied in large groups.
tower of folly
a structure that is built for no practical purpose and is often considered a waste of resources
Example
The tower of folly was an extravagant addition to the garden, but it added little value to the property.
folly of youth
the tendency of young people to make foolish decisions due to their lack of experience and judgement
Example
The accident was a result of the folly of youth, as the driver was inexperienced and reckless.

Origins of folly

from Old French 'folie', meaning 'madness'

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Summary: folly in Brief

The term 'folly' [ˈfɒli] refers to a lack of good sense or judgement, often resulting in foolish or imprudent behavior. It can also refer to a costly ornamental building with no practical purpose, such as a tower or mock-Gothic ruin. Examples include 'It would be folly to ignore the warnings.' and 'The castle was a folly built by a wealthy eccentric.' Idioms like 'make a folly of oneself' and 'throw caution to the wind(s)' highlight the risks of foolish behavior.