noun
spoof
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
1
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."
2
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
1
To make a lighthearted, mocking imitation of something.
"The sketch show loves to spoof popular reality TV."
2
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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- spoofs
- Third person singular
- spoofs
- Past tense
- spoofed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for spoof
See all rhymes for spoof →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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