boffin
6 synonyms for boffin, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — British informal: a scientist or technical expert, especially one involved in research.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use boffin
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
boffins at the lab
government boffins
Mainly British informal usage; rarely used in American English.
Etymology
Origin uncertain; one popular theory links it to the bumbling "Mr. Boffin" character in Dickens's novel Our Mutual Friend.
Full origin of boffin →Frequently asked questions
What does “boffin” mean?
The word “boffin” means british informal: a scientist or technical expert, especially one involved in research. In plain terms, a British word for a scientist, engineer, or technical expert, often used slightly affectionately.
How do you pronounce “boffin”?
“Boffin” is pronounced BO-fihn (/ˈbɑfɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “boffin” in a sentence?
Here is “boffin” used in a sentence: “Government boffins developed the new radar system during the war.”
What part of speech is “boffin”?
“Boffin” is a noun.
Related words
egghead
mad scientist
