hoax

[hohks]

noun

1. something intended to deceive or defraud.

   The Piltdown man was a scientific hoax.

   Synonyms: humbug, imposture, fake, fraud, deception

verb (used with object)

1. to deceive by a hoax; hoodwink.

hoax

/ həʊks /

noun

1. a deception, esp a practical joke

verb

1. (tr) to deceive or play a joke on (someone)

Other Word Forms

• hoaxer noun
• unhoaxed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoax¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; perhaps contraction of hocus

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoax¹

C18: probably from _hocus

Example Sentences

It never asks Democratic lawyer Marc Elias about his funding the Russia hoax.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Bomb threats disrupted voting in some parts of New Jersey early Tuesday, temporarily shutting down a string of polling locations across the state before law enforcement determined the threats were hoaxes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

For decades, scientists and experts have rebutted conspiracy theories claiming the Apollo 11 mission was a hoax.

Read more on BBC

George Stephanopoulos of ABC News didn’t find the courage to report honestly on the collusion hoax.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In social media video ahead of his Bloomberg interview, Farage said he hoped it would put an end to the "old Russia hoax stuff that comes up again and again".

Read more on BBC