Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

cock-up

noun \ ˈkäk-ˌəp \

Definition of cock-up

British
: mess 3b

See cock-up defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of cock-up

circa 1948

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

COCK-UP Defined for English Language Learners

cock-up

noun

Definition of cock-up for English Language Learners

  • : a situation that is complicated, unpleasant, or difficult to deal with because of someone's mistake

Learn More about cock-up

  1. See words that rhyme with cock-up

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up cock-up? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

halcyon

play

peaceful, happy, or prosperous

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. socialism 'a way of organizing a society in which major industries are owned and controlled by the government'

  2. uphold 'to let stand'

  3. due process 'a course of formal proceedings (as judicial proceedings)'

  4. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

  5. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

cock-up

Test Your Vocabulary

Test Your Emoji Exceptionalism

  • test-your-emoji-exceptionalism-written-with-a-lot-of-emoji
  • What is this emoji intended to represent: 🤳
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games