fatuous

[fach-oo-uh s] /ˈfætʃ u əs/

adjective

foolish or inane, especially in an unconscious, complacent manner; silly.

unreal; illusory.

Origin

1625-35; < Latin fatuus silly, foolish, idiotic; see -ous

Related forms

fatuously, adverb

fatuousness, noun

Synonyms

1. dense, dull, dim-witted. See foolish.

Examples from the web for fatuous

It no longer is fatuous to predict an astonishing productivity harnessed to a relative handful of workers.
Henry's portentous musings on the futility of war seem fatuous beside his clear-eyed account of how war looks.
It's fatuous to book flight tickets through online travel firms without having a look at the respective airline's fare.
If another reason is to effect education reform, the idea is fatuous.
In all ages, indeed, grammarians appear to have been fatuous.
After a while, the debate in the restaurant begins to seem a little fatuous-there's not much comedy or tragedy in the movie.
It is as fatuous to deny the existence of evil as it is to toss the word around irresponsibly.
But those are small potatoes in a generally fatuous tale.
Suddenly, the finesse, the astuteness behind the gaze that does not really gaze is lost in a sea of fatuous prolixity.
To make a distinction between natural disasters and civil disturbances on the basis of whether or not looting occurs is fatuous.

British Dictionary definitions for fatuous

fatuous

/ˈfætjʊəs/

adjective

complacently or inanely foolish

Derived Forms

fatuously, adverb
fatuousness, noun

Word Origin

C17: from Latin fatuus; related to fatiscere to gape

Contemporary definitions for fatuous

adjective

inanely foolish and unintelligent; stupid

Word Origin

Latin fatuus 'foolish'

adjective

illusory; delusive

Word Origin

Latin fatuus 'foolish'

Word Origin and History for fatuous

adj.

c.1600, from Latin fatuus "foolish, insipid, silly;" of uncertain origin (Buck suggests originally "stricken" in the head). Related: Fatuously; fatuousness.