fatuus

Fatuus is a Latin adjective meaning foolish, silly, or empty-headed. In classical and late Latin, it could describe people as lacking sense, or things as insubstantial or pointless. The term functions as a normal adjective, agreeing with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case; for example, vir fatuus would mean “a foolish man.”

In English, fatuus itself is rarely used outside scholarly or historical Latin references. Its most common descendant in modern English is fatuous, which conveys a sense of vacuity, silliness, or self-satisfied foolishness. The shift from fatuus to fatuous reflects typical Latin-to-English word formation, and the sense has broadened beyond the strictly “foolish” to emphasize nonsense or lack of substance.

Etymology and related terms: fatuus comes from Latin, with the meaning centered on emptiness or lack of judgment. The more familiar English term is fatuous, which appears in many dictionaries and contemporary usage to describe remarks, ideas, or behavior that are complacently silly or vacuously stupid. Related concepts include folly, nonsense, and foolishness.

Usage notes: In modern English, fatuus is largely confined to linguistic discussion, translations of Latin texts, or stylistic emphasis in historical writing. For everyday use, fatuous is the standard adjective to convey the intended meaning of a lack of intelligence or seriousness.