pass off

verb

passed off; passing off; passes off

transitive verb

1
: to make public or offer for sale with intent to deceive
2
: to give a false identity or character to

Examples of pass off in a Sentence

the con man tried to pass off a piece of blue glass as a sapphire
Recent Examples on the Web But some experts are concerned about the implementation of such a requirement, and even more so about passing off a complicated policy decision to the voters of California. Jennah Pendleton, Sacramento Bee, 21 May 2024 In the days after Elvis's passing, Jimmy Ellis, an unknown singer with a baritone that matched the King's, was plucked from obscurity and passed off as a masked Presley, back from the dead. Tim Moffatt, EW.com, 20 May 2024 Sixto Sanchez gave up two runs through four innings before passing off to Burch Smith (2-0), Andrew Nardi, Anthony Bender, Calvin Faucher and Eli Villalobos for an inning each. Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 5 May 2024 Many pass off the origin story as local lore, but in 1989, it was reinforced when Rau, who had grown into an adult, wrote to the Cincinnati Museum of Natural History explaining his role in the eventual lizard population boom. Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 7 Apr. 2024 Far too often, I’m confronted with crumbling mounds of pseudo flour passed off as a gluten-free snack. Matti Gellman, Kansas City Star, 19 Jan. 2024 After their set, Lavigne, 39, passed off the group's trophy to Armstrong, who appeared overjoyed. Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024 For Amos, passing off his company to someone outside of the family represents an inevitable but wrenching loss. Maria Aspan, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2024 So then that gets passed off to a doctor who comes up with a plan for you. Isabella Cueto, STAT, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pass off.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pass off was in 1681

Dictionary Entries Near pass off

Cite this Entry

“Pass off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pass%20off. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

pass off

verb
: to give a false identity to : describe untruthfully

Legal Definition

pass off

transitive verb
1
: to make public or offer for sale (goods or services) with intent to deceive : palm off
passing his product off as that of the plaintiff'sW. L. Prosser and W. P. Keeton
see also unfair competition
2
: to give a false identity or character to
they created the documents on the day of the trial and passed them off as being made earlier

More from Merriam-Webster on pass off

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