folderol: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Literary, Humorous, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “folderol” mean?
Nonsense.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Nonsense; foolishness.
A useless ornament or piece of trivial finery; meaningless or trivial activity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Slightly more common historically in British English.
Connotations
Both varieties share the connotation of frivolous ornamentation or absurd talk.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both modern UK and US speech. More likely encountered in historical texts, humor columns, or by writers aiming for an archaic, whimsical tone.
Grammar
How to Use “folderol” in a Sentence
dismiss something as folderoldispense with the folderolcut through the folderolVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used humorously to refer to unnecessary bureaucracy or corporate jargon. e.g., 'Let's skip the marketing folderol and get to the numbers.'
Academic
Rare. Might appear in humanities critiques dismissing a frivolous theory or ornate, empty prose.
Everyday
Almost never used in casual conversation. If used, it's for deliberate, humorous effect.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “folderol”
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a folderol'). It is generally used as a mass noun. Misspelling as 'foulderol' or 'faldarol'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered archaic or literary. It is used primarily for humorous or stylistic effect.
Yes, historically it could refer to a useless ornament or gewgaw. Today, it's more commonly used for speech or activity.
It originated in the early 18th century as a nonsense refrain in songs ('fol-de-rol' or 'falderal'), later becoming a term for a trivial ornament or nonsense itself.
They are very close synonyms. 'Folderol' sometimes leans more towards frivolous ornamentation, while 'balderdash' is squarely focused on senseless talk or writing. Both imply contempt.
Nonsense.
Folderol is usually literary, humorous, archaic in register.
Folderol: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɒl.dəˈrɒl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɑːl.dəˌrɑːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cut through the folderol”
- “dispense with the folderol”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'fold' and 'rol' (like 'roll'). Imagine folding up and rolling away a piece of useless, gaudy wrapping paper - that's folderol.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEANINGLESS SPEECH/ACTIVITY IS USELESS ORNAMENTATION.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST synonym for 'folderol' in the sentence: 'Ignore all the folderol and focus on the core issue.'?