April fool

noun

1. the victim of a practical joke or trick on April Fools' Day.
2. a practical joke or trick played on that day.

April fool

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of April fool¹

First recorded in 1680–90

Example Sentences

This paper published the account as an April Fool's Day joke, though later it took to itself the credit for having believed it.

From Project Gutenberg

For an April Fool's Day gathering, ask each guest to come prepared to do some sleight of hand trick.

From Project Gutenberg

You know, Mrs. Vanderhook expects me to look after the decorations of her April-Fool tea party.

From Project Gutenberg

"You can't April-fool me that easy," she said in a superior-sounding way that irritated Jerry.

From Project Gutenberg

Bertie walks slowly toward the door, but stops halfway there, and asks, "Is it April-fool's Day?"

From Project Gutenberg

More About April Fool

What does April fool mean?

The term April fool is used to refer to a prank played on April Fools’ Day, a lighthearted holiday on April 1 that people observe by playing pranks and practical jokes.

April fool can also refer to the person who’s the victim of such a prank (the “fool”).

After playing an April Fools’ Day prank, it’s common for the prankster to say April fool! or April fools!

Where does April fool come from?

The first records of the term April fool come from the 1680s. The first records of April Fools’ Day come from the mid-1700s (it’s first recorded in the form April-Fool Day in 1748).

The ultimate origin of the tradition of April Fools’ Day is uncertain, but April 1 has been observed as a day of pranks in different places in Europe since at least the 1500s. The practice of playing pranks on April 1 may derive from the French custom known as poisson d’avril, which literally means “April fish” and involves pinning a paper fish to a person’s back (classic).

Did you know ... ?

What are some words that share a root or word element with April fool? 

• April Fools’ Day
• All Fools’ Day

What are some words that often get used in discussing April fool?

• prank
• practical joke
• joke
• trick
• hoax
• fake
• holiday

How is April fool used in real life?

The term April fool is typically only used on April Fools’ Day.

When I was little I played the same prank on my dad every year where I would run up to him and tell him I lost a tooth then yell April fool😂

— Madelyn Baker (@madeyn_rose) April 2, 2014

I'd still like to see the rumoured (or was it an April Fool, I forget) Bananaman movie starring Jason Statham.

— Sir Richard Richard (@VimFuego15) March 22, 2021

you're the april fool if you believe that 'before noon' rule. IT'S NOT CALLED APRIL FOOL'S MORNING.

— EJT (@ejjiott) March 31, 2018

 

 

Try using April fool!

True or False?

April fool can refer to an April Fools’ Day prank or the victim of such a prank.