folderol

/ˈfɒldəˌrɒl/

Other forms: folderols

Folderol is nonsense or trivial foolishness. A politician might claim that her rival's proposals are nothing but folderol.

There are a lot of words that mean nonsense, from malarkey to codswallop to twaddle, and folderol is yet another one. The word comes from the meaningless song refrain fol-de-rol, a variation on "tra la la," and first appeared in the 18th century. Later, it came to have the additional meaning of "cheap, showy trifle or gewgaw." Some people decide to elope when they get married, instead of having an elaborate wedding full of folderol.

Definitions of folderol

1. noun

   nonsensical talk or writing
   synonyms: applesauce, codswallop, rubbish, trash, tripe, trumpery, wish-wash

   type of:

   drivel, garbage

   a worthless message
2. noun

   something of little value or significance
   synonyms: bagatelle, fluff, frippery, frivolity

   type of:

   small beer, trifle, trivia, triviality

   something of small importance