April fool

American  

noun

1. the victim of a practical joke or trick on April Fools' Day.

2. a practical joke or trick played on that day.

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April fool British  

noun

1. an unsuspecting victim of a practical joke or trick traditionally performed on the first of April ( April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day )

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Etymology

Origin of April fool

First recorded in 1680–90

Example Sentences

This was followed by two smiley faces and a later post saying "April fool ma brother ohh".

From BBC • Jan. 10, 2025

I pity the April fool who doesn’t try this week’s Slate News Quiz.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2022

Virgin pride themselves on April fool releases, and Atlantic is just one of many flooding into reporters’ inboxes from Branson’s subsidiaries.

From The Guardian • Apr. 1, 2017

On the one hand, could this be an early Google April fool?

From Forbes • Sep. 19, 2013

"Oh, you're sweet on Mrs. Pete," laugheed the youth who had called "April fool" to Josie.

From Mary Louise and Josie O'Gorman by Sampson, Emma Speed