foolproof — Designed so simply or effectively that it cannot fail, go wrong, or be misused, even by an inexperienced or careless person.
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: Designed so simply or effectively that it cannot fail, go wrong, or be misused, even by an inexperienced or careless person.
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈfuːlpruːf/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother's foolproof kimchi recipe has never failed once in 50 years.
- He claimed his cheating method was foolproof, until the teacher caught him copying from his own shoe.
- The civil service exam application process is designed to be foolproof, with multiple confirmation steps.
foolproof
ADJECTIVE[/ˈfuːlpruːf/]
Designed so simply or effectively that it cannot fail, go wrong, or be misused, even by an inexperienced or careless person.
The new coffee machine is foolproof — one button and it's perfect every time.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Foolproof emerged in early 20th-century English as a compound of 'fool' (a person lacking judgment or care) and 'proof' (able to resist or withstand, as in waterproof or bulletproof). It originally described machinery or mechanical systems designed with such simplicity that even a careless or incompetent operator could not damage or misuse it.
Breakdown
fool (a person lacking judgment) + proof (resistant to or protected against something). The compound conveys the sense of being 'resistant to fool-caused errors'—designed so thoroughly that failure requires intentional sabotage rather than mere carelessness.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother's foolproof kimchi recipe has never failed once in 50 years.”
“He claimed his cheating method was foolproof, until the teacher caught him copying from his own shoe.”
“The civil service exam application process is designed to be foolproof, with multiple confirmation steps.”
“No diet plan is truly foolproof if you keep eating fried chicken at midnight.”
📚Related Words
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