Standard Lemma guide

fatuousness

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The characteristic of being fatuous.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Something fatuous; a stupid idea or utterance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a ludicrous folly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the crowd laughed at the absurdity of the clown's behavior

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: absurdity, fatuity, silliness

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: folly, foolishness, unwiseness

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English fatuous Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English fatuousness From fatuous + -ness.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Irish: amadántacht — the characteristic of being fatuous
  • Italian: fatuità — the characteristic of being fatuous