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folly

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Folly is defined as an act of foolishness or a lack of good sense.

(noun)

An example of folly is someone intentionally stabbing their foot with a pitch fork.
An example of folly is building a hospital on an earthquake fault line.

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See folly in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. follies

a lack of understanding, sense, or rational conduct; foolishness
any foolish action or belief
any foolish and useless but expensive undertaking
1. Obsolete wickedness or evil; also, lewdness
2. action that ends or can end in disaster

Origin: ME folie < OFr < fol: see fool

See folly in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. fol·lies

A lack of good sense, understanding, or foresight.
a. An act or instance of foolishness: regretted the follies of his youth.
b. A costly undertaking having an absurd or ruinous outcome.
follies (used with a sing. or pl. verb) An elaborate theatrical revue consisting of music, dance, and skits.
Obsolete
a. Perilously or criminally foolish action.
b. Evil; wickedness.
c. Lewdness; lasciviousness.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English folie

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from fol, foolish

Origin: , from Late Latin follis, windbag, fool; see fool

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