buffoonery

American  

[buh-foo-nuh-ree] / bəˈfu nə ri /

noun

1. amusement by means of usually physical or visual tricks, jokes, etc..

   The play swings from absurd buffoonery to high tragedy, with kinetic physicality, silliness, swords, and live music.

2. coarse or undignified joking.

   The managers perceived my buffoonery as a barely concealed way of calling them pretentious—and they weren’t altogether wrong.

3. silly, foolish, or unseemly behavior.

   It’s hard to top the current governor's race if you like your politics laced with outrageous buffoonery.

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Etymology

Origin of buffoonery

buffoon ( def. ) + -ery ( def. )

Explanation

If someone tells you to cut out the buffoonery, you may want to consider taking the French fries out of your nostrils. Buffoonery means acting like a clown. Notice how buffoon sounds like puff? Well, they're related. Buffare is an Italian word meaning "puff out the cheeks," which is apparently something that Italian court jesters, or buffoons, liked to do in the 1700s. Guess you had to be there.

Example Sentences

"More Cowbell" sets the bar for the kind of meticulously curated buffoonery people want from the show and any tribute marking its 50 years in business.

From Salon • Jan. 16, 2025

O’Neill captures the buffoonery to a large extent but seems a touch more jovial than the man he portrays.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2024

“The notion that Cromitie was selected as a ‘leader’ by the co-defendants is inconceivable, given his well-documented buffoonery and ineptitude,” she wrote.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 20, 2024

All told, the 60-page document features plenty of conspiracy and buffoonery both.

From Slate • Jul. 27, 2023

This way of dealing with the question may seem to many readers nothing better than downright buffoonery.

From Modern Leaders: Being a Series of Biographical Sketches by McCarthy, Justin

Related Words

• caricature
• contempt
• derision
• disdain
• jeer
• laughter
• mockery
• parody
• sarcasm
• satire
• scorn
• taunt
• taunting