French word

idiotie

Pronunciation

IPA/idjosi/

Meaning

  • feminine nounfoolishness

Example

C'est une idiotie.

That's sheer foolishness.

Illustration for idiotie (foolishness)

More examples

Ne fais pas une idiotie pour gagner du temps.

Don't do something stupid to buy time.

Core concept

A thought, statement, or deed that falls sharply outside sensible judgment.

Common phrases

  • faire une idiotie

    do something stupid

  • dire une idiotie

    say something stupid

Similar words

bêtise: A minor thoughtless mistake or foolish act.
absurdité: Something irrational and absurd by the standards of logic or common sense.
sottise: A silly, senseless remark, act, or idea.
stupidité: A state of mental dullness marked by poor intelligence or judgment.

Definition in French

Action, parole ou idée qui manque de bon sens et qui paraît stupide ou absurde.

Word origin

French created idiotie from idiot with -ie, and idiot traces back to Greek idiōtēs via Latin idiota, with a later shift toward foolishness.

Usage tips

  • The pattern C'est une idiotie de plus an infinitive expresses that an action is foolish, as in C'est une idiotie de partir maintenant.

Other meanings

  • stupid actnoun

Opposites

  • bon senscommon sensenoun

Related words

  • idiotiqueidioticadjective

Word lists with this word