fool

A2 Topic:People & Society

Also spelled fooil and fool’n

US /fuːl/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like full /ʊ/ vs /uː/

Freq #832

Meanings

1

noun
A person who behaves in a silly way or shows poor judgement.

You were a fool to cross that busy road without looking.
2

verb
To trick or deceive someone.

You really fooled me with that story!
3

verb
To behave in a silly or playful way.

Stop fooling around and get back to work.
4

noun
In the past, an entertainer employed to amuse a king or noble.

The king's fool entertained the whole court.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Multiword verbs with fool

fool around Phrasal verb A2

to behave playfully or foolishly instead of acting seriously

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a person who behaves in a... idiot imbecile

2 verb · to trick or deceive someone. gull

3 verb · to behave in a silly or... fool aroundhorse around

4 noun · in the past, an entertainer... jester joker

More alcatotearseholeasshatassholebayardberkbirdbrainblitherbobchinbonehead bozobrickhead

Opposites

sage

Word family

Forms fooledfoolingfools

Derived forms april-foolarchfoolaudiophooldamnfoolfool-heartedfool-heartedlyfool-heartednessfool-saintfooldomfooleryfoolessfoolfish

Related forms foolish glaikhalfwitidiot insane jester retarded

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

fool around
to behave playfully or foolishly instead of acting seriously

Verb + adverb

Proverbs (16)

See all

Simplified etymology

Fool has its root in Latin follis, which originally meant “bellows” or “windbag” and came to mean “an empty-headed person.” Its use for a jester or clown also dates from the Middle Ages.

Etymology

From Middle English fole (“fool”), from Old French fol (cf. modern French fou (“mad”)) from Latin follis. Doublet of fals and follis. Displaced native Old English dwæs.

*bʰelǵʰ- Proto-Indo-European fole Middle English fol Old French follis Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

People & Society

External links

# fool

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /fuːl/
**Frequency rank:** 832

## Meanings
1. A person who behaves in a silly way or shows poor judgement.
2. To trick or deceive someone.
3. To behave in a silly or playful way.
4. In the past, an entertainer employed to amuse a king or noble.

## Examples
- You were a fool to cross that busy road without looking.
- You really fooled me with that story!
- Stop fooling around and get back to work.
- The king's fool entertained the whole court.

## Synonyms
- alcatote
- arsehole
- asshat
- asshole
- bayard
- berk
- birdbrain
- blither
- bobchin
- bonehead
- bozo
- brickhead

## Antonyms
- sage

## Derived Forms
- april-fool
- archfool
- audiophool
- damnfool
- fool-hearted
- fool-heartedly
- fool-heartedness
- fool-saint
- fooldom
- foolery
- fooless
- foolfish

## Related Forms
- foolish
- glaik
- halfwit
- idiot
- insane
- jester
- retarded

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *bʰelǵʰ-
- Root: fole
- Root: fol
- Root: follis

## Etymology
From Middle English fole (“fool”), from Old French fol (cf. modern French fou (“mad”)) from Latin follis. Doublet of fals and follis. Displaced native Old English dwæs.

## AI Etymology
Fool comes from Middle English fole (“fool”), from Old French fol (cf. modern French fou (“mad”)) from Latin follis. Doublet of fals and follis. Displaced native Old English dwæs. In current use, the main senses are “A person who behaves in a silly way or shows poor judgement” and “To trick or deceive someone”.

## Topics
- People & Society

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