1
: the seed coverings and other debris separated from the seed in threshing grain
2
: something comparatively worthless
a few kernels of wisdom amid much discursive chaff—
Steven Raichlen
Steven Raichlen3
: the scales borne on the receptacle among the florets in the heads of many composite plants
4
: material (such as strips of foil or clusters of fine wires) ejected into the air for reflecting radar waves (as for confusing an enemy's radar detection)
planes equipped with chaff dispensers
chaffed; chaffing; chaffs
: to tease good-naturedly
Examples of chaff in a Sentence
Noun (1)
there's a lot of chaff in this book, and the reader should be on the alert for it
Noun (2)
I got no end of chaff about my accent when I was in the military
Verb
chaffed her about the brightly colored shirt she had received as a gift
a coworker who likes to chaff at others' expense, and this often results in hurt feelings
Recent Examples on the Web
Bo Howard, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
Day 2 of school and the wheat’s already been separated from the chaff.
—Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Aug. 2025
After hiring an industry executive, the company figured out how to separate the valuable ore from the chaff.
—Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
Visitors can see the operations of the thresher and the simple mechanics used to separate grain from chaff.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for chaff
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.
Noun
For the rest of us, this is where the wheat and the chaff separate.
—Bo Howard, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
Day 2 of school and the wheat’s already been separated from the chaff.
—Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Aug. 2025
After hiring an industry executive, the company figured out how to separate the valuable ore from the chaff.
—Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
Visitors can see the operations of the thresher and the simple mechanics used to separate grain from chaff.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for chaff
Cite this Entry
“Chaff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chaff. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share