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 of pass off

• wish
• inflict
• impose
• palm off
• fob off
• palm

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

After a campaign marred by clashes at opposition rallies, and what the United Nations said was widespread repression and intimidation, voting passed off peacefully on Thursday. —Reuters, NBC news, 17 Jan. 2026

The tie ultimately passed off without much incident. —Phil Hay, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026

And that’s not even mentioning the Broncos’ use of match coverages, where defenders pass off assignments mid-play based on offensive motion. —Luca Evans, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026

After Wembanyama converted an and-one fast-break lob from Stephon Castle, Mazzulla lifted Walsh and passed off that matchup to Baylor Scheierman. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 11 Jan. 2026

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