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

Doctorow, the author of Enshittification, has AI knockoffs of his own book on Amazon. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2025

Edwin Jean, a Brooklyn resident who uses laminated cards to hawk knockoff handbags on Canal Street, said the raid shook the vendor community. —Daniella Silva, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025

Verb

The country’s rich musical heritage has also been knocked off its foundation. —Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025

If a computer can knock off a script in a matter of minutes, what does the future look like for playwrights? —David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2025

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