pass off

verb

passed off; passing off; passes off

transitive verb

1

: to make public or offer for sale with intent to deceive

2

: to give a false identity or character to

Synonyms

• fob off
• foist
• palm
• palm off
• wish

Examples of pass off in a Sentence

the con man tried to pass off a piece of blue glass as a sapphire

Recent Examples on the Web

Ostensibly, tariffs raise prices for the end consumer, as companies often pass off the additional costs to customers. —Brett F. Braley-Palko, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025

But do not pass off all the responsibility to a blue bin. —Allure Editors, Allure, 22 Apr. 2025

One moment stood out in particular from Wednesday night’s victory on Long Island: when Pius Suter passed off a clear shot on an empty net to feed Kiefer Sherwood for his second goal of the night. —Thomas Drance, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

Trump pointed to one where Vice President Vance runs for the White House and passes off the job to him. —Al Weaver, The Hill, 31 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for pass off

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

Kids Definition

pass off

verb

: to give a false identity to : describe untruthfully

Legal Definition

pass off

transitive verb

1

: to make public or offer for sale (goods or services) with intent to deceive : palm off

passing his product off as that of the plaintiff's

—W. L. Prosser and W. P. Keeton

see also unfair competition

2

: to give a false identity or character to

they created the documents on the day of the trial and passed them off as being made earlier