buffoonery
gb/bˈʌfˈunɚi/ us/bˈʌfˈunɚi/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
abstract
1
clownish behavior meant to amuse
funny but silly behavior, like a clown.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s buffoonery
Common mistake:
Often used for behavior (uncountable), not for a person; the person is a "buffoon."
Synonyms
clowning (More casual and often less critical.)
|
tomfoolery (Emphasizes playful foolishness; slightly old-fashioned.)
|
antics (Focuses on attention-getting actions, not necessarily comedy.)
Antonyms
seriousness (A sober, earnest manner instead of joking around.)
|
dignity (Calm, respectable behavior rather than clownishness.)
Collocations
comic buffoonery
|juvenile buffoonery
|a bit of buffoonery
|a touch of buffoonery
|lighthearted buffoonery
|onstage buffoonery
|good-natured buffoonery
|his buffoonery
|her buffoonery
|a display of buffoonery
Themes
humor
|social_life
|entertainment
Examples
- The show relies on physical buffoonery and quick one-liners.
- His buffoonery at the party had everyone laughing within minutes.
- The actor mixed genuine emotion with bursts of buffoonery.
Learner examples
- His buffoonery made the children laugh.
- There was a little buffoonery during the game.
Noun
formal
C1
abstract
2
ridiculous lack of seriousness
silly behavior at the wrong time, when people should be serious.
Usage pattern:
buffoonery in/at [place/setting]
Common mistake:
Common in criticism (especially politics/media); it usually carries a negative judgment, not neutral fun.
Synonyms
foolishness (Broader and more common; less vivid than buffoonery.)
|
farce (Suggests an absurd, almost theatrical situation, not just behavior.)
|
shenanigans (Often implies mischievous or questionable actions; more informal.)
Antonyms
professionalism (Appropriate, responsible conduct in serious settings.)
|
decorum (Proper behavior according to social or institutional rules.)
Collocations
political buffoonery
|public buffoonery
|sheer buffoonery
|utter buffoonery
|headline-grabbing buffoonery
|a descent into buffoonery
|condemn the buffoonery
|accuse [someone] of buffoonery
|tired of the buffoonery
|the meeting turned into buffoonery
Themes
politics
|media
|work
|social_issues
Examples
- Voters grew tired of the buffoonery and wanted a serious debate.
- The hearing was disrupted by hours of pointless buffoonery.
- What should have been a careful review turned into buffoonery.
Learner examples
- The boss said there was no place for buffoonery at work.
- People criticized the buffoonery during the interview.
Noun
formal
C2
abstract
3
crude or tasteless joking
rude or childish jokes and tricks.
Usage pattern:
buffoonery about/over [topic]
Common mistake:
Not the same as "buffet" or "buff"; pronunciation is /bəˈfuːnəri/.
Synonyms
loutishness (Stresses rude behavior, not necessarily joking.)
|
immaturity (Focuses on childishness rather than humor.)
|
horseplay (Often physical and rowdy; may be less insulting.)
Antonyms
restraint (Self-control instead of loud, inappropriate joking.)
|
courtesy (Polite behavior rather than tasteless jokes.)
Collocations
crude buffoonery
|tasteless buffoonery
|drunken buffoonery
|locker-room buffoonery
|late-night buffoonery
|engage in buffoonery
|indulge in buffoonery
|ban the buffoonery
|a night of buffoonery
|end the buffoonery
Themes
humor
|relationships
|school
|workplace
Examples
- The coach warned the team that the locker-room buffoonery had to stop.
- Her colleagues were embarrassed by his drunken buffoonery at the conference dinner.
- The article criticized the host for relying on crude buffoonery.
Learner examples
- The teacher stopped the students' buffoonery.
- His buffoonery offended some people.
Grammar
Dictionary form
buffoonery
IPA
GB/bˈʌfˈunɚi/
US/bˈʌfˈunɚi/
Syllables & stress
buf - foon - ery (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (buf)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: buffoonery
- Plural: buffoonery
Word family
Core family
buffoon
noun C1
Advanced or less common
buffoonish
adjective
buffoonishly
adverb
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.