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Added 9 October 2026

folly

/ˈfɒli/ noun

In Latin: stultitia, fatuitas Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about folly at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The trait of acting stupidly or rashly.
A stupid mistake.
The quality of being rash and foolish.
trying to drive through a blizzard is the height of folly

Origin

Inherited from Middle English folie, from Old French folie (“madness”), from the adjective fol (“mad, insane”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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