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

Both parents died before Mears was three, and he was passed off among relatives who didn’t want to care for him. — Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

Jadyn Glasser completed 13 of 15 passes off the bench for 88 yards for Central Michigan (2-2). — ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026

The Trojans ran the ball from shotgun with a tight end (or two) assisting while completing passes off play-action — with RPOs and quick passes to negate Mizzou’s rush. — Pj Green september 20, Kansas City Star, 20 Sep. 2026

Up to now, those accused of passing off a computer’s writing as their own have tended to either apologize or deny it. — Will Oremus, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 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