noun
goof
goof
Goof (noun) means a mistake or blunder. Example: “That was a minor goof — nobody even noticed.”
noun
1
A mistake or blunder.
"That was a minor goof — nobody even noticed."
2
A silly or foolish person.
"He's a lovable goof who always makes us laugh."
verb
1
To make a mistake, or to fool around instead of being serious.
"I goofed and sent the email to the wrong person."
"The kids were just goofing around in the backyard."
How to use goof
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA blunder, a silly person, or the act of messing around or making a mistake.
Common pairings
goof around
goof off
goof up
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Word forms
- Plural
- goofs
- Third person singular
- goofs
- Past tense
- goofed
Fill the gap
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That was a minor _____ — nobody even noticed.
Etymology
Likely from dialectal English "goff," meaning a foolish clown, itself of uncertain deeper origin.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for goof
See all rhymes for goof →Frequently asked questions
What does “goof” mean?
The word “goof” means a mistake or blunder. In plain terms, a blunder, a silly person, or the act of messing around or making a mistake.
How do you pronounce “goof”?
“Goof” is pronounced goof (/ɡuːf/ in IPA).
How do you use “goof” in a sentence?
Here is “goof” used in a sentence: “That was a minor goof — nobody even noticed.”
What part of speech is “goof”?
Depending on how it is used, “goof” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “goof” have?
“Goof” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a mistake or blunder.
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