scoff

¹

[ skawf, skof ]

verb (used without object)

1. to speak derisively; mock; jeer (often followed by at ):

   If you can't do any better, don't scoff. Their efforts toward a peaceful settlement are not to be scoffed at.

   Synonyms: gibe

verb (used with object)

1. to mock at; deride.

noun

1. an expression of mockery, derision, doubt, or derisive scorn; jeer.

   Antonyms: praise

2. an object of mockery or derision.

scoff

²

[ skawf, skof ]

verb (used with or without object)

1. to eat voraciously.

noun

1. food; grub.

scoff

¹

/ skɒf /

verb

1. to eat (food) fast and greedily; devour

noun

1. food or rations

scoff

²

/ skɒf /

verb

1. introften foll byat to speak contemptuously (about); express derision (for); mock
2. obsolete.
   tr to regard with derision

noun

1. an expression of derision
2. an object of derision

Derived Forms

• ˈscoffing, adjective
• ˈscoffingly, adverb
• ˈscoffer, noun

Other Words From

• scoff·er noun
• scoff·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of scoff¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English scof; origin uncertain, but compare Old Norse skopa “to scorn”

Origin of scoff²

First recorded in 1855–60; earlier scaff; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of scoff¹

C19: variant of scaff food; related to Afrikaans, Dutch schoft quarter of the day, one of the four daily meals

Origin of scoff²

C14: probably from Scandinavian; compare Old Frisian skof mockery, Danish skof, skuf jest

Synonym Study

Scoff, jeer, sneer imply behaving with scornful disapproval toward someone or about something. To scoff is to express insolent doubt or derision, openly and emphatically: to scoff at a new invention. To jeer suggests expressing disapproval and scorn more loudly, coarsely, and unintelligently than in scoffing: The crowd jeered when the batter struck out. To sneer is to show by facial expression or tone of voice ill-natured contempt or disparagement: He sneered unpleasantly in referring to his opponent's misfortunes.

Example Sentences

My instinct is to scoff at that idea.

From Los Angeles Times

For those who might scoff that Trump actually means these things, the location spoke for itself.

From Salon

His stock response to tough questions about the economic challenges which might face an independent Scotland was to scoff that, "of course", independence would not lead to the installation of three taps in every home - one for oil, one for whisky and one for water.

From BBC

She’s also, of course, daring us to scoff.

From Los Angeles Times

But scoff I must: On an album slick with flop sweat, poor little Daisy comes across not as a beneficiary of Perry’s motherly encouragement but as a victim of her creative desperation.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• belittle
• deride
• jeer
• mock
• reject
• ridicule
• scorn
• sneer