spoof

1 of 2

verb

ˈspüf 

spoofed; spoofing; spoofs

transitive verb

1

: deceive, hoax

2

: to make good-natured fun of

spoof

2 of 2

noun

1

: hoax, deception

2

: a light humorous parody

spoofery

ˈspü-f(ə-)rē 

noun

spoofy

ˈspü-fē 

adjective

Synonyms of spoof

Verb

• parody
• imitate
• mock

Noun

• parody

Examples of spoof in a Sentence

Verb

spoofed overly competitive parents in a mockumentary about tryouts for a national T-ball team

the newspaper was spoofed by a supposedly plausible claim of a UFO encounter

Noun

many viewers thought that the spoof of a television newscast was the real thing

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The would-be crook used caller ID-spoofing technology, which experts say is getting more and more convincing. — Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026

All this because that was the Ditka look everyone remembers, Saturday Night Live many times spoofed, and NFL films saluted. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026

Noun

Blanchett cofounded the nonprofit Human Consent Foundation to help people register how AI models can — or cannot — scrape their likenesses in an effort to combat such spoofs. — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

There may have been little place for critique in his early images of the luxe life, but their satirical edge sharpened over time, hitting a peak in a spoof of tabloid sensationalism in the September, 1962, issue. — Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Spoof, a hoaxing game invented by Arthur Roberts †1933 English comedian

First Known Use

Verb

1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for spoof

• goof
• hoof
• kloof
• poof
• proof
• roof
• woof
• aloof
• behoof
• disproof
• flameproof
• foolproof

Kids Definition

spoof

verb

ˈspüf

: to make good-natured fun of

spoof noun