foiled: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, journalistic, and literary; also used in everyday speech, especially in news contexts.
Quick answer
What does “foiled” mean?
Prevented from succeeding.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Prevented from succeeding; thwarted.
Can refer to being physically prevented (as an attack), having plans ruined, or in architecture/design, a background pattern that makes something stand out.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use it identically in core meaning. The architectural/heraldic sense ('foiled arch') is more common in UK historical/technical contexts.
Connotations
Strong connotation of a deliberate, intelligent prevention of a (typically negative) action. Often used for crimes, attacks, or secret plans.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK news media reporting on crime/security, but common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “foiled” in a Sentence
[Subject] foiled [Object] (e.g., Police foiled the plot)[Object] was foiled by [Agent] (e.g., The attack was foiled by security)[Subject] foiled in [Gerund/NP] (e.g., He was foiled in his attempt to escape)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “foiled” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The security services foiled a major terrorist plot in London.
- Their ambitions were foiled by the new regulations.
- He was foiled in his attempt to board the train without a ticket.
American English
- Authorities foiled a smuggling operation at the border.
- Her clever defense foiled the prosecutor's argument.
- The quarterback was foiled by an unexpected interception.
adjective
British English
- The foiled robber made a desperate escape.
- It was another foiled attempt to break the record.
- The window featured a beautiful foiled tracery design.
American English
- The foiled attacker was taken into custody.
- She felt a sense of foiled ambition after the rejection.
- The jewellery was displayed on foiled velvet.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could describe a thwarted takeover bid or corporate espionage. 'The hostile takeover was foiled by a poison pill strategy.'
Academic
Used in history/political science texts regarding prevented conflicts, coups, or schemes.
Everyday
Common in news headlines about crime. 'Bank robbery foiled by alert cashier.'
Technical
In architecture/art: describing ornamental tracery with leaf-shaped lobes (e.g., trefoiled).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “foiled”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “foiled”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “foiled”
- Using 'foiled' for accidental failure (incorrect: 'The project foiled due to rain' – correct: 'was foiled by lack of funding').
- Spelling confusion: 'foiled' vs. 'failed'.
- Using as a present tense verb (incorrect: 'He foils the plan yesterday' – correct: 'foiled').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While common for crimes/attacks, it can be used for any prevented plan or ambition (e.g., 'foiled ambitions'). It also has a technical meaning in architecture/design.
'Failed' means lack of success, which can be due to any reason. 'Foiled' specifically means success was actively prevented by someone or something (an agent).
Yes. As a participial adjective, it describes something that has been thwarted (e.g., 'a foiled plot') or, in design, something adorned with foil or a leaf-like pattern.
Etymologically, no. The verb 'foil' comes from Old French 'fuler' (to trample). The noun for thin metal shares a different root (Latin 'folium', leaf). The conceptual link of 'thin layer' led to the design sense.
Prevented from succeeding.
Foiled is usually formal, journalistic, and literary; also used in everyday speech, especially in news contexts. in register.
Foiled: in British English it is pronounced /fɔɪld/, and in American English it is pronounced /fɔɪld/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “foiled again! (expression of exasperation after repeated failure)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a villain's evil plan wrapped in aluminium FOIL. The hero crumples the foil, ruining the plan inside. FOILed = plan crumpled.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUCCESS IS A PATH/JOURNEY; to foil is to put an obstacle on that path. FAILURE IS A PHYSICAL OBJECT BEING BENT/BROKEN (like foil).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'foiled' LEAST likely to be used?