spoof

1 of 2

verb

ˈspüf How to pronounce spoof (audio)
spoofed; spoofing; spoofs
Synonyms of spoof

transitive verb

1
: deceive, hoax
2
: to make good-natured fun of

spoof

2 of 2

noun

1
: hoax, deception
2
: a light humorous parody
spoofery
ˈspü-f(ə-)rē How to pronounce spoof (audio)
noun
spoofy
ˈspü-fē How to pronounce spoof (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of spoof

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Verb

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of spoof in a Sentence

Verb spoofed overly competitive parents in a mockumentary about tryouts for a national T-ball team the newspaper was spoofed by a supposedly plausible claim of a UFO encounter Noun many viewers thought that the spoof of a television newscast was the real thing
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
My favorite summer TikTok trend is one that spoofs Netflix true crime dramas by applying their narrative formula to mundane, everyday situations. — Monica Hesse, Washington Post, 31 July 2026 Otherwise, the software is fast and fluid, and Google apps can run here as long as the user installs MicroG first (an open-source software that spoofs Google Mobile Services). — Ben Sin, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Noun
Kimmel’s spoof arrived shortly after McConnell released a second statement following his June 14 hospitalization, which revealed new details about his condition. — Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026 Wet Hot American Summer, the brainchild of several alumni of the beloved sketch troupe The State, is a hilarious and highly specific spoof of late-’70s and early-’80s summer-camp comedies in the vein of Meatballs. — Jesse Hassenger, Entertainment Weekly, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for spoof

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Spoof, a hoaxing game invented by Arthur Roberts †1933 English comedian

First Known Use

Verb

1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spoof was in 1889

Rhymes for spoof

See All Rhymes for spoof

Browse Nearby Words

spontoon
spoof
spoofer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spoof.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spoof. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

spoof

verb
ˈspüf
: to make good-natured fun of
spoof noun

More from Merriam-Webster on spoof

Nglish: Translation of spoof for Spanish Speakers

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