noun

stupidity

stoo-PID-uh-tee/stuːˈpɪdəti/

Foolishness caused by poor understanding or judgment.

Her attempt to fill the perforated colander displays a moment of stupidity.

A young woman tries to fill a perforated kitchen colander with water from a pitcher, apparently expecting it to hold the water while streams escape through its holes onto the table.

Etymology

stupLatinbe stunned or amazed

+idLatinhaving a quality

+ityLatinstate or quality

The root’s stunned state connects to mental dullness through Latin stupidus, which meant both “amazed” and “foolish.” The noun names that dullness as a condition; English stupidity has also meant numbness or incapacity for sensation.

In context

Spirit Science40:01

outrageous levels of stupidity now at some level we must be able to laugh at ourselves because humans are notorious for often doing very dumb things

THE CONSPIRACY THEORY OF EVERYTHING | Full Movie

More examples

He regretted the stupidity of ignoring the warning.
The remark was pure stupidity.
Several costly stupidities complicated the repair.

Forms

stupidity · stupidities

Similar words

foolishness: More often describes poor judgment without attacking intelligence.
idiocy: Idiocy is a stronger, more insulting judgment.