Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Designed so as to be impervious to human incompetence, error, or misuse.
- adjective Effective; infallible.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective For a device:
protected , ordesigned to beproof againstmisuse orerror ;fail-safe . - adjective For an idea or plan:
infallible , orbulletproof .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective not liable to failure
- verb proof against human misuse or error
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word foolproof.
Examples
-
“A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.”
-
Curse that Aimee and her so-called foolproof formula for success: “Wear your hair down and the highest heels you have, then watch the tips roll in.”
Fashionably Late Beth Kendrick 2005
-
Curse that Aimee and her so-called foolproof formula for success: “Wear your hair down and the highest heels you have, then watch the tips roll in.”
Fashionably Late Beth Kendrick 2005
-
Curse that Aimee and her so-called foolproof formula for success: “Wear your hair down and the highest heels you have, then watch the tips roll in.”
Fashionably Late Beth Kendrick 2005
-
Curse that Aimee and her so-called foolproof formula for success: “Wear your hair down and the highest heels you have, then watch the tips roll in.”
Fashionably Late Beth Kendrick 2005
-
The little formulas that the smart boys who design these so-called foolproof systems build in so they can sneak a gander whenever they feel like it.
Tek Money Shatner, William 1995
-
He proceeded to share his so-called foolproof secrets on how he managed to purchase eleven cars in his lifetime way below sticker price.
Forbes.com: News Forbes Blogs 2011
-
There is nothing which can be called foolproof or completely safe.
-
There is nothing which can be called foolproof or completely safe.
-
However, mammograms as important as they are, are not 100\% foolproof, which is why a CBE by a trained examiner is strongly recommended.
Phoenix Arizona Real Estate Local News and Business Directory 2008
asativum commented on the word foolproof
That which usually proves not to be.
September 15, 2008
sarahlena commented on the word foolproof
even an Idiot can do it
Sure to be successful
May 27, 2009