hoax

American  

[hohks] / hoʊks /

noun

1. something intended to deceive or defraud.

   The Piltdown man was a scientific hoax.

   Synonyms:

   humbug, imposture, fake, fraud, deception

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verb (used with object)

1. to deceive by a hoax; hoodwink.

hoax British  

/ həʊks /

noun

1. a deception, esp a practical joke

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

• hoaxer
  noun
• unhoaxed
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of hoax

First recorded in 1790–1800; perhaps contraction of hocus

Explanation

If you put on big fake feet, stomp through your muddy backyard and tell everyone you saw Bigfoot fixing a steak on your grill, you are playing a hoax on your friends. Hoax is believed to be a shortened version of hocus pocus, thus conveying the feeling of trickery and sleight of hand. April First, also known as April Fools' Day, is a day of hoaxes. Successful hoaxes in history: Orson Welles' War-of-the-Worlds radio broadcast in 1938 and the alien autopsy film footage made public in the 1990s. Do you believe the American moon landing in 1969 was a hoax? You're not alone. Six percent of Americans believe this event was staged.

Example Sentences

It also found that he defamed her last year when he went on his Truth Social website and called her case a “complete con job” and “a Hoax and a lie.”

From New York Times • Jun. 13, 2023

The jury also found Mr Trump liable for defamation for calling the writer's accusations "a Hoax and a lie".

From BBC • May 9, 2023

There, he called Carroll's rape claim a "Hoax and a lie" for promoting her memoir, and maintained that she was "not my type!"

From Reuters • Apr. 20, 2023

It is a Hoax and a lie, just like all the other Hoaxes that have been played on me for the past seven years.”

From Seattle Times • Nov. 23, 2022

The episode that became known as Hillari’s Hoax took place in her sophomore year, when she tried out for cheer- leading.

From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli