fatuity
UK: fəˈtjuːɪti | US: fəˈtuːɪti
n. 1. Smug foolishness; vacuous silliness.
n. 2. A ludicrously pointless act or idea.
fatuity = fatu<foolish> + ity<noun suffix>
- fatu (from Latin fatuus meaning "foolish, insipid")
- ity (noun-forming suffix indicating state or quality, from Latin -itas)
Etymology Origin:
The word fatuity traces back to Latin fatuus, which originally described something tasteless or silly, later evolving to mean foolishness. The suffix -ity was added in Middle English to form an abstract noun, solidifying its meaning as "the quality of being foolish." The term often carries a connotation of smug or self-satisfied stupidity, reflecting its classical roots in mocking empty-headedness.
His speech was riddled with such fatuity that the audience struggled to take him seriously.
The fatuity of their plan became obvious when it failed within hours.
She sighed at the fatuity of the celebrity gossip dominating the news.
Political debates sometimes devolve into displays of sheer fatuity.
The professor dismissed the theory as intellectual fatuity.