Word of the Day

: July 18, 2024

tomfoolery

noun tahm-FOO-luh-ree

What It Means

Tomfoolery is a word with an old-fashioned sound to it that refers to playful or silly behavior.

// The antics in the play itself apparently inspired tomfoolery behind the scenes as well, as cast members constantly played practical jokes on one another.

See the entry >

tomfoolery in Context

“Children aged seven and older are invited to be part of some musical mischief with the BBC Concert Orchestra and star percussionist Colin Currie, not to mention the world premiere of the Beano Concerto for percussion and orchestra. Actors and animation will also play a part and there’s plenty of audience participation too. Prepare for charming tomfoolery and the perfect first foray into classical music.” — Martha Alexander, The Evening Standard (London), 30 May 2023

Did You Know?

The word tomfoolery owes a debt to one Thome Fole, but just who that Mr. Fole was is unclear. A court jester identified as Thome Fole was employed at Durham Abbey in the 14th century, but the record is unclear about whether Thome Fole was the given name of this particular performer, or if the name was applied as a generic moniker to jesters. Regardless, Thome Fole eventually evolved into tomfool, which was in use as a noun referring to any notable fool by the early 17th century, and as an adjective describing such fools by the mid-18th century. Tomfoolery as a term for playful or foolish behavior didn’t come into use until the early 19th century, but it’s proven to be of far more use to English speakers than tomfool.