seward's folly: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (historical term)Formal, Historical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “seward's folly” mean?
The 1867 purchase of Alaska from Russia by U.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The 1867 purchase of Alaska from Russia by U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward, widely criticized at the time as a wasteful expenditure for seemingly worthless territory.
Any seemingly foolish or wasteful purchase or investment that later proves to be of great value; a historical example of an investment initially mocked but ultimately vindicated.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is primarily used in American historical and political discourse. British usage is rare and typically only in contexts discussing U.S. history.
Connotations
In American usage, carries a connotation of ironic historical reversal (folly → wisdom). In British usage, if used, is more purely historical.
Frequency
Virtually exclusive to American English. Very low frequency in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “seward's folly” in a Sentence
be dubbed/seena Seward's Follycompare X to Seward's Follya modern Seward's FollyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “seward's folly” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Seward's Folly purchase was controversial.
American English
- He made a Seward's Folly kind of investment in that startup.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically to describe a risky corporate acquisition that sceptics think is foolish.
Academic
Used in history, political science, and economics to discuss the event or as a case study in perceived versus actual value.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used by a well-read person describing a purchase that seems silly.
Technical
Not used in STEM fields. Confined to humanities and social sciences.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “seward's folly”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “seward's folly”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “seward's folly”
- Misspelling as 'Sewards Folly' (missing apostrophe).
- Using it to describe any bad purchase (it must have the potential for later vindication).
- Confusing William H. Seward with other historical figures.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
William H. Seward was the U.S. Secretary of State under President Andrew Johnson who negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia.
Contemporary critics thought the land was a frozen, barren wasteland and that the U.S. had wasted millions of dollars on a useless territory.
Opinions began to shift dramatically after the discovery of gold in the 1890s (Klondike Gold Rush), and later with the discovery of vast oil and other natural resources.
Yes, primarily as a historical metaphor to describe any major purchase or investment that is initially ridiculed but is expected (or later proven) to be valuable.
The 1867 purchase of Alaska from Russia by U.
Seward's folly is usually formal, historical, academic in register.
Seward's folly: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsjuːədz ˈfɒli/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsuːərdz ˈfɑːli/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Today's Seward's Folly is tomorrow's gold mine.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Seward's Folly sounds like 'sewer's folly' – imagine someone buying a dirty sewer, which seems foolish, but it turns out to be full of treasure (like Alaska's resources).
Conceptual Metaphor
INITIAL FOLLY IS FUTURE WISDOM; CRITICISM IS SHORT-SIGHTEDNESS.
Practice
Quiz
What is the core meaning of 'Seward's Folly'?