oaf

[ ohf ]

noun

1. a clumsy, stupid person; lout.

   Synonyms: boor, churl

2. a simpleton; dunce; blockhead.

   Synonyms: ninny, dolt

3. Archaic.
   1. a deformed or mentally deficient child.
   2. a changeling.

oaf

/ əʊf /

noun

1. a stupid or loutish person

Derived Forms

• ˈoafishness, noun
• ˈoafishly, adverb
• ˈoafish, adjective

Other Words From

• oafish adjective
• oafish·ly adverb
• oafish·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of oaf¹

1615–25; variant of auf, Middle English alfe, Old English ælf elf; cognate with German Alp nightmare

Word History and Origins

Origin of oaf¹

C17: variant of Old English ælf elf

Synonym Study

See boorish ( def ).

Example Sentences

She scrutinized the vicissitudes of the New York City Ballet as well as the feats of the ballroom-dancing pros and celebrity oafs of the popular TV series, “Dancing With the Stars.”

From New York Times

The daughter is married to a bumbling oaf, whom she bullies with real glee.

From New York Times

The venture left Stanford one of the world’s wealthiest men, though not, Harris suggests, by his own merit, especially “given the amount of financial chicanery going on” and his reputation as a “big oaf.”

From Washington Post

I just have the sense that life is just this clumsy oaf.

From Salon

“I’ve never tried to avoid that. I’m not some remorseless oaf.”

From Seattle Times