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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.
Examples of tomfoolery in a Sentence
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
Judge Judy, has served up swift justice with a sharp tongue and zero patience for tomfoolery.
—Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 21 July 2025
Some have parents who forbid that brand of tomfoolery.
—Henry Abbott, The Atlantic, 12 July 2025
Idris Elba is the British prime minister (and ex-soldier) who has no time for his tomfoolery.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tomfoolery
Cite this Entry
“Tomfoolery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tomfoolery. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.
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tomfoolery
noun
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