verb
mooch
MOOCH
Mooch (verb) means to get something, such as money or food, from someone else without paying or giving anything back; to sponge off others. Example: “He's always mooching cigarettes off his coworkers.”
verb
1
To get something, such as money or food, from someone else without paying or giving anything back; to sponge off others.
"He's always mooching cigarettes off his coworkers."
"Stop mooching free wifi and just pay for your own plan."
2
To wander around without any particular purpose.
"We spent the afternoon mooching around the old town, in and out of shops."
noun
1
A person who habitually sponges off others.
"Nobody wanted to lend him anything else — he had a reputation as a mooch."
How to use mooch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo scrounge things off other people instead of paying your own way, or someone who does this.
When to use it
Informal; used in casual speech, often with mild disapproval or teasing.
Common pairings
mooch off someone
mooch a cigarette
total mooch
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Word forms
- Plural
- mooches
- Third person singular
- mooches
- Past tense
- mooched
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He's always _____ cigarettes off his coworkers.
Etymology
From Middle English mouchen ("to skulk about, pretend poverty"), ultimately from an Old French word meaning "to hide or lurk" — the idea of sneaking about for a handout.
Related words
Rhymes for mooch
See all rhymes for mooch →Frequently asked questions
What does “mooch” mean?
The word “mooch” means to get something, such as money or food, from someone else without paying or giving anything back; to sponge off others. In plain terms, to scrounge things off other people instead of paying your own way, or someone who does this.
How do you pronounce “mooch”?
“Mooch” is pronounced MOOCH (/ˈmuːt͡ʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “mooch” in a sentence?
Here is “mooch” used in a sentence: “He's always mooching cigarettes off his coworkers.”
What part of speech is “mooch”?
Depending on how it is used, “mooch” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “mooch” come from?
The word “mooch” comes from Old French. From Middle English mouchen ("to skulk about, pretend poverty"), ultimately from an Old French word meaning "to hide or lurk" — the idea of sneaking about for a handout.
How many meanings does “mooch” have?
“Mooch” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to get something, such as money or food, from someone else without paying or giving anything back; to sponge off others.
