noun
boffin
BO-fihn
noun
1
British informal: a scientist or technical expert, especially one involved in research.
"Government boffins developed the new radar system during the war."
"The tech boffins at the lab unveiled a faster battery design."
How to Use Boffin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA British word for a scientist, engineer, or technical expert, often used slightly affectionately.
When to use it
Mainly British informal usage; rarely used in American English.
Common pairings
boffins at the lab
government boffins
Word Forms
boffins plural
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Government _____ developed the new radar system during the war.
Etymology
Origin uncertain; one popular theory links it to the bumbling "Mr. Boffin" character in Dickens's novel Our Mutual Friend.