noun

stooge

stooj

Quiz me More like this

Stooge (noun) means someone who lets themselves be used by others, usually to take the blame or do the dirty work. Example: “He was made the stooge for a scheme he barely understood.”

noun

Someone who lets themselves be used by others, usually to take the blame or do the dirty work.

"He was made the stooge for a scheme he barely understood."

"Critics dismissed the minister as a stooge for more powerful figures behind the scenes."

A comedian's straight man, or a magician's secret assistant planted in the audience.

"The magician's stooge pretended to be a random volunteer from the crowd."

How to use stooge

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone being used, often without fully realising it, to serve someone else's interests.

Common mistake

Almost always used dismissively or with contempt — calling someone a stooge is an insult, not a neutral job description.

Common pairings

a stooge for mere stooge the magician's stooge

Vocabulary Flow

Build your vocabulary from words like stooge.

Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.

Start vocabulary practice

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: stooges
Third person singular: stooges
Past tense: stooged

Test yourself on “stooge” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He was made the _____ for a scheme he barely understood.

Etymology

Origin uncertain — possibly from Russian студент (studént, "student"), which once meant a stage assistant to a comedian; it may have come into English via Yiddish theatre slang.

Origin: Russian

Synonyms

View more →

butt goat flunky flunkey yes-man laughingstock

Related words

can hit behind march ass target bottom seat

Rhymes for stooge

doge toge scrooge

See all rhymes for stooge →

Frequently asked questions

What does “stooge” mean?

The word “stooge” means someone who lets themselves be used by others, usually to take the blame or do the dirty work. In plain terms, someone being used, often without fully realising it, to serve someone else's interests.

How do you pronounce “stooge”?

“Stooge” is pronounced stooj (/stuːd͡ʒ/ in IPA).

How do you use “stooge” in a sentence?

Here is “stooge” used in a sentence: “He was made the stooge for a scheme he barely understood.”

What part of speech is “stooge”?

“Stooge” is a noun.

Where does the word “stooge” come from?

The word “stooge” comes from Russian. Origin uncertain — possibly from Russian студент (studént, "student"), which once meant a stage assistant to a comedian; it may have come into English via Yiddish theatre slang.

How many meanings does “stooge” have?

“Stooge” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone who lets themselves be used by others, usually to take the blame or do the dirty work.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include stooge:

Words with slavic origins

People also searched

can hit behind march ass target bottom seat