noun / verb
fool
FOOL/fuːl/
A person displaying a lack of serious judgment.
The fool holds his umbrella upside down, collecting rain instead of blocking it.
Etymology
Latin follis named bellows or a leather bag. It probably developed the insulting sense “windbag, empty-headed person,” connecting an air-filled object with someone lacking good judgment.
In context
What chance would you have? Your boat stove and you in the water—there is the end of it. No man of mine goes on such a fool’s errand
More examples
- The fake signature doesn't fool the bank teller.
- We fool around during breaks but take our work seriously.
- In the play, the king's fool entertains the court with jokes.
Forms
fool · fools · fooled · fooling
foolish adjective — Showing a lack of good judgment.
foolishness noun — Behavior that shows poor judgment.
Similar words
- idiot
- A harsher insult emphasizing low intelligence or extremely poor judgment.
- simpleton
- Emphasizes naive thinking and being easily deceived.