DictionaryAI

fool

USFOOL/fuːl/

Pluralfools

Verbfools, fooling, fooled

10 meanings of fool

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  1. 1
    idiotnouncountable
    A person who shows poor judgment or does not think clearly.

    Like someone who keeps touching a hot stove after being told it burns.

    Only a fool would risk all his savings on a single bet.

    She felt like a complete fool after locking the keys in the car.

    Usagemake a fool of yourself means do something that makes you look silly.

    Similaridiot, dunce, simpleton, nitwit, dope

    Oppositegenius, sage

    Note
  2. 2
    deceiveverbtransitive
    To trick someone into believing something that is not true.

    Like hiding a toy behind your back so someone looks the wrong way.

    She tried to fool her little brother with a rubber spider.

    The cheap costume fooled everyone at the party.

    UsageSay don't be fooled by it.

    Similartrick, deceive, dupe, hoodwink, mislead

    Note
  3. 3
    mess aroundverbintransitive
    To behave in a silly or stupid way.

    Stop fooling around and help me set the table.

    The kids laughed and fooled around in the pool all afternoon.

    UsageSay stop fooling around: stop being silly.

    Similarclown, joke

    Note
  4. 4
    a trick's victimnouncountable
    A person who has been tricked or cheated.

    My grandma is nobody's fool, so the phone scam didn't work on her.

    My sister tricked me on April 1 and shouted, 'April fool!'

    Usagenobody's fool means hard to trick.

    Similardupe, sucker, patsy, mug, chump

    Note
  5. 5
    comic characternouncountable
    A person whose job was to make a king or queen laugh, or a funny character like this in plays.

    In the play, the fool says the funniest and truest things of all.

    Many stories use a fool to make people laugh and think at once.

    Similarjester, clown

    Note
  6. 6
    friendly addressnounslangcountable
    A friendly way to call someone, like saying 'buddy' or 'man.'

    Hey fool, let's go grab some food after class.

    Come on, fool, we're going to be late for the bus.

    Similardude, man, buddy, bro, homie

    Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–9

From Middle English fole, from Old French fol, which came from Latin follis.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

Meaning 10

No one knows for sure. Some link it to French fouler, 'to crush', but this is doubted.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts