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

The cast of Moonlight then took the stage where Horowitz passed off the award to director Barry Jenkins who proceeded to give a speech of his own. —Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025

New York City’s political power is officially passing off to the millennial generation. —Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025

On the final chance in the first half, the Dolphins couldn’t even get the Hail Mary pass off, with Tagovailoa taking a sack. —The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025

Everybody got beat on a 48-yard pass off a third-and-17 (biggest play of the game). —Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 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