noun

spoof

Spoof (noun) means a humorous imitation that pokes fun at something, especially a film, show, or genre. Example: “The movie is a spoof of classic 1980s action films.”

noun

A humorous imitation that pokes fun at something, especially a film, show, or genre.

"The movie is a spoof of classic 1980s action films."

"They put together a spoof of the news for the school talent show."

An act of deceiving someone, or a fake message or identity used to trick a person or system.

"The email was a spoof designed to look like it came from the bank."

verb

To make a lighthearted, mocking imitation of something.

"The sketch show loves to spoof popular reality TV."

To fake or disguise something, such as a sender's identity, in order to deceive.

"Scammers spoofed the caller ID to make it look like a local number."

How to Use Spoof

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA comedic parody, or — in tech contexts — a fake designed to trick someone.

Common mistake

In cybersecurity, "spoof" specifically means faking an identity (like an email address or phone number) to deceive, not just making a joke version of something.

Common pairings

spoof movie spoof email spoof someone's number

Word Forms

spoofed past tense, spoofed past tense, spoofs plural, spoofs singular, spoofs singular

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The movie is a _____ of classic 1980s action films.

Etymology

Coined by English comedian Arthur Roberts in 1884 as the name for a card game built around trickery and nonsense.

· First attested 1884

Class of 1884 spoof joined the language around 1884.

phone

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Synonyms

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parody takeoff mockery burlesque charade travesty sendup put-on lampoon pasquinade

Related Words

joke describe nonsense cartoon cod mock roast parody

Rhymes for spoof

oof roof goof poof hoof woof boof aloof proof sunroof foolproof fireproof

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “spoof” mean?

The word “spoof” means a humorous imitation that pokes fun at something, especially a film, show, or genre. In plain terms, a comedic parody, or — in tech contexts — a fake designed to trick someone.

How do you pronounce “spoof”?

“Spoof” is pronounced spoof (/spuːf/ in IPA).

How do you use “spoof” in a sentence?

Here is “spoof” used in a sentence: “The movie is a spoof of classic 1980s action films.”

What part of speech is “spoof”?

Depending on how it is used, “spoof” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “spoof” come from?

The word “spoof” dates back to around 1884. Coined by English comedian Arthur Roberts in 1884 as the name for a card game built around trickery and nonsense.

How many meanings does “spoof” have?

“Spoof” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a humorous imitation that pokes fun at something, especially a film, show, or genre.

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