noun
folly
A building made for decoration with little practical purpose.
A stone folly adds a touch of mystery to the garden.
Etymology
The French word names foolishness. A costly decorative structure with little practical use could be judged a folly, giving the ornamental building its name.
More examples
- The estate's follies include a mock temple and a miniature castle.
- They build a folly beside the pond purely for decoration.
- The garden path leads to a folly shaped like a tower.
Forms
folly · follies
Similar words
- pavilion
- Usually provides shelter or event space, unlike a purely decorative folly.