boffin

[ bof-in ]

nounBritish Slang.
  1. a scientist or technical expert.

Origin of boffin

1
First recorded in 1940–45; origin uncertain

Words Nearby boffin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use boffin in a sentence

  • Lopez had been dining with Mr. and Mrs. boffin, and had now again encountered his late host and hostess.

    The Prime Minister | Anthony Trollope
  • boffin was a little puzzled as he thought on all this, but in the meantime was very proud of his own consistency.

    The Prime Minister | Anthony Trollope
  • Mr. boffin had been sure that British honour was going to the dogs and that British greatness was at an end.

    The Prime Minister | Anthony Trollope
  • He still held his office, but more than once he was seen in private conference with both Sir Orlando and Mr. boffin.

    The Prime Minister | Anthony Trollope
  • Somehow, the worse Mr. boffin treated his secretary, the more Bella felt drawn to the man whose offer of marriage she had refused.

    The World's Greatest Books, Vol III | Arthur Mee and J.A. Hammerton, Eds.

British Dictionary definitions for boffin

boffin

/ (ˈbɒfɪn) /


noun
  1. British informal a scientist, esp one carrying out military research

  2. a person who has extensive skill or knowledge in a particular field: a Treasury boffin

  1. informal someone who is considered to be very clever, often to the exclusion of all non-academic interests

Origin of boffin

1
C20: of uncertain origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012