folly

About 4.41 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun Foolishness that results from a lack of foresight or lack of practicality.

   It would be folly to walk all that way, knowing the shops are probably shut by now.

2. noun Thoughtless action resulting in tragic consequence.

   The purchase of Alaska from Russia was termed Seward's folly.

3. noun A fanciful building built for purely ornamental reasons.

   A luncheonette in the shape of a coffee cup is particularly conspicuous, as is intended of an architectural duck or folly.

4. verb To follow.
5. noun A clump of trees, particularly one on the crest of a hill (or sometimes on a stretch of open ground).

Similar words

foolishness stupidity foolery imbecility tomfoolery craziness unwiseness indulgence betise stupid

Often followed by

of and to in is or for that which

Word family

follies