guffaw
1 synonym for guffaw, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A loud, boisterous laugh.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
belly laugh
How to use guffaw
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
let out a guffaw
guffaw loudly
burst into a guffaw
It describes a laugh that is notably loud and unrestrained, rather than a quiet chuckle.
Etymology
Guffaw was first recorded in the early eighteenth century. It began as a Scots word and is thought to imitate the sound of a loud laugh.
Full origin of guffaw →Frequently asked questions
What does guffaw mean?
It means a loud, boisterous laugh, or the act of laughing that way.
What's the difference between a guffaw and an ordinary laugh?
A guffaw refers specifically to a loud, unrestrained laugh, while 'laugh' is the general word covering any kind.
Where does the word guffaw come from?
It was first recorded in the early eighteenth century, originally in Scots, and is thought to imitate the sound of laughter.
