knockoff

1 of 2

noun

knock·​off ˈnäk-ˌȯf 

: a copy that sells for less than the original

broadly : a copy or imitation of someone or something popular

knock off

2 of 2

verb

knocked off; knocking off; knocks off

intransitive verb

: to stop doing something

transitive verb

1

: to do hurriedly or routinely

knocked off one painting after another

2

: discontinue, stop

knocked off work at five

3

: deduct

knocked off a little to make the price more attractive

4

a

: kill

He's alreadyknocked off two men to keep them out.

—W. E. Johns

b

: overcome, defeat

knocked off each center of rebellion

5

: rob

knocked off a couple of banks

6

: to make a knockoff of : copy, imitate

knocks off popular dress designs

Synonyms of knockoff

Verb

• stop
• cease
• end
• halt
• break off
• quit
• lay off
• cut off
• shut off

Examples of knockoff in a Sentence

Noun

That purse is a knockoff.

Verb

decided it was time to knock off telling fantastic fibs about her family background

a proposal to knock 10 cents off the gasoline tax

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Morris said the company needs to keep up with the demand for private brands that don't look, taste or feel like cheaper knockoffs of national brands. —Melissa Repko, CNBC, 15 Apr. 2026

With no pressing need for FX, sets, name actors or stunts, just about anyone could make a marketable knockoff. —Dennis Harvey, Variety, 11 Apr. 2026

Verb

In the first game, the hitters started going to right field and knocked off the Royals 10-2. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026

The upstart Anaheim Ducks knocking off Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers. —Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 3 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1966, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1649, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for knockoff

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

knock off

verb

: to stop doing something