foil

1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈfȯi(-ə)l 

foiled; foiling; foils

transitive verb

1

a

: to prevent from attaining an end : defeat

always able to foil her enemies

Her accident foiled her from becoming a dancer.

b

: to bring to naught : thwart

foiled the plot

Police foiled an attempted robbery.

2

obsolete : trample

foil

2 of 5

noun (1)

1

: very thin sheet metal

aluminum foil

2

: a thin piece of material (such as metal) put under an inferior or paste stone to add color or brilliance

3

: someone or something that serves as a contrast to another

acted as a foil for a comedian

4

a

: an indentation between cusps in Gothic tracery

b

: one of several arcs that enclose a complex figure

5

: hydrofoil sense 1

foil

3 of 5

verb (2)

foiled; foiling; foils

transitive verb

1

: to back or cover with foil

2

: to enhance by contrast

foil

4 of 5

noun (2)

1

: a light fencing sword having a usually circular guard and a flexible blade of rectangular section tapering to a blunted point compare épée, saber

2

: the art or sport of fencing with the foil

—often used in plural

foil

5 of 5

noun (3)

1

archaic : defeat

2

archaic : the track or trail of an animal

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• baffle
• balk
• beat
• checkmate
• discomfit
• frustrate
• thwart

Choose the Right Synonym for foil

frustrate, thwart, foil, baffle, balk mean to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal.

frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent.

frustrated attempts at government reform

thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing.

the army thwarted his attempt at a coup

foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort.

foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her

baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling.

baffled by the maze of rules and regulations

balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances.

officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime

Examples of foil in a Sentence

Verb (1)

in popular fiction the hero will always foil the villain's plans

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Therese Johaug topped a 1-2 finish for Norway in the Tour de Ski women’s event with a dominant win in the final climbing stage Sunday, foiling American Jessie Diggins’ bid to win the overall title for a third time. —Zack Pierce, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025

But in the third, the Thunder returned the favor, spearheaded by their relentless defensive stalwart who channels the physicality and grittiness of Dyson Daniels and Dillon Brooks, two players who have foiled the Knicks’ offensive plans this season. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2025

Noun

But his most valuable foil, Fidel Castro, is dead, replaced by a new wave of unintimidated citizens determined to oust him as a barrier to the city’s maturation. —Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025

So Socorro would take the foil off, then crank up the oven and crisp it and save the crispy bits for those who wanted it. —Erica Zora Wrightson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English foilen "to trample, tread upon, mortify (the flesh), oppress," alteration of fullen "to full (cloth), trample down, oppress," perhaps by analogy with loanwords from French with palatal l that result in variants with -oi- and -u-, as coilen, cullen "to select for quality, pick out, cull entry 1" — more at full entry 5

Noun (1)

Middle English, leaf, from Anglo-French fuille, foille (from Latin folia, plural of folium) & fuil, from Latin folium — more at blade

Noun (2)

origin unknown

Noun (3)

derivative of foil entry 1

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (3)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing foil

• aluminum foil
• silver foil

Kids Definition

foil

1 of 3 verb

ˈfȯi(ə)l 

: to prevent from achieving a goal : defeat

foil a plot

foil

2 of 3 noun

1

: a very thin sheet of metal

tin or aluminum foil

2

: one that serves as a contrast to another

acted as a foil for the comedian

foil

3 of 3 noun

: a fencing weapon having a light flexible blade with a blunt point

Etymology

Verb

Middle English foilen "to trample underfoot," from early French fuller, fouler "to shrink and thicken (cloth), trample underfoot," from Latin fullare "to shrink and thicken (cloth)"

Noun

Middle English foil "leaf," from early French fuille, foille (same meaning), derived from Latin folium "leaf" — related to foliage

Noun

origin unknown

Medical Definition

foil

noun

ˈfȯil 

: very thin sheet metal (as of gold or platinum) used especially in filling teeth