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
Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
Compared with the seeds of almost every other plant, grass seed is highly palatable, especially for a dexterous ape whose hands can slough off the chaff.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
In Figure 2, after the corn stalks are plucked, the cobs are separated and the chaff pulverized.
—Sabbir Rangwala, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Others, though, found their way through the chaff and into the light.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chaff
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Noun
In these latest cuts, some of the other firings were in sales, recruiting, and Facebook, signaling that Zuckerberg is separating the chaff in non-AI related units beyond its flailing Metaverse division.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
Compared with the seeds of almost every other plant, grass seed is highly palatable, especially for a dexterous ape whose hands can slough off the chaff.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
In Figure 2, after the corn stalks are plucked, the cobs are separated and the chaff pulverized.
—Sabbir Rangwala, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Others, though, found their way through the chaff and into the light.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chaff
Cite this Entry
“Chaff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chaff. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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