/ ˈɪdiəsi; NAmE / noun ( pl. -ies ) ( formal )
1.
[ U ] very stupid behaviour; the state of being very stupid
SYN stupidity
2.
[ C ] a very stupid act, remark, etc. :
the idiocies of bureaucracy
••
WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent. (originally denoting low intelligence): from idiot , probably on the pattern of pairs such as lunatic , lunacy .