hocus

verb

ho·​cus ˈhō-kəs 

hocussed or hocused; hocussing or hocusing

transitive verb

1

: to perpetrate a trick or hoax on : deceive

2

: to befuddle often with drugged liquor

also : dope, drug

hocussed the favorite before the race

Examples of hocus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Allen had to hocus pocus their way through the receiver deficiencies with screens and other short-distance routes, but James Cook, the tight ends and offensive line delivered ample force. —The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

obsolete hocus, noun, short for hocus-pocus

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hocus

• hocus-pocus

Rhymes for hocus

• crocus
• focus
• locus
• autofocus
• defocus
• refocus