fool's gold

noun

: pyrite
broadly : any of various pyritic minerals resembling gold

Examples of fool's gold in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The heavy density of pyrite also means the fool's gold material thoroughly filled in tiny areas where the arthropod's body once lay in sediment − including internal body parts, scientists said. Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024 But some things that seem shiny are really just fool's gold. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 20 Sep. 2024 For some, the promise of reparations has been nothing more than fool's gold, epitomized by a bill in Congress that's stalled since it was first introduced in the 1980s, even though it's aimed at studying reparations and named after the original promise. Sophie Austin The Associated Press/ Report For America, arkansasonline.com, 25 July 2024 Too many folks are substituting pills and powders for the real thing, and, in my view, substituting fool's gold for real gold. Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 7 Mar. 2024 There is going to be a lot of gold in the coming avalanche of data, but this gold will be dwarfed by the amount of 'fool's gold'. Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 20 Feb. 2012 This isn't the first time that a high-profile company has turned out to be a bit of fool's gold. Joel Mathis, The Week, 15 Nov. 2022 This year's potential cheat-code player has turned into fool's gold instead. Tony Holm, USA TODAY, 14 Nov. 2022 Winning off the efforts of Gordon, who will be on the wrong side of 35 when the Rockets are ready to actually contend, and Wood, who can walk entirely in a year, is fool's gold. Rahat Huq, Chron, 7 Dec. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fool's gold was in 1828

Dictionary Entries Near fool's gold

Cite this Entry

“Fool's gold.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fool%27s%20gold. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

fool's gold

noun
: pyrite

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