fool
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
A person with poor judgment or little intelligence.
Register: derogatory
Examples
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
A jester; a person whose role was to entertain a sovereign and the court (or lower personages).
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
A stock character typified by unintelligence, naïveté or lucklessness, usually as a form of comic relief; often used as a source of insight or pathos for the audience, as such characters are generally less bound by social expectations.
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “fool” mean?
A person with poor judgment or little intelligence.
Is “fool” formal or informal?
fool is generally derogatory.