scoff

¹ American  

[skawf, skof] / skɔf, skɒf /

verb (used without object)

1. to speak derisively; mock; jeer (often followed byat ).

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

   Synonyms:

   gibe

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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 American  

[skawf, skof] / skɔf, skɒf /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to eat voraciously.

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noun

1. food; grub.

scoff ¹ British  

/ skɒf /

verb

1. to speak contemptuously (about); express derision (for); mock

2. obsolete (tr) to regard with derision

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noun

1. an expression of derision

2. an object of derision

scoff ² British  

/ skɒf /

verb

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

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noun

1. food or rations

Synonym Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• scoffer
  noun
• scoffing
  adjective
• scoffingly
  adverb

Etymology

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

Explanation

To laugh at someone with scorn is to scoff at them. People have scoffed at many great inventors, saying their products would flop because the public wouldn't be interested in things like the light bulb, the personal computer, or the pet rock. The verb scoff is often followed by the word at ("scoff at the idea; scoff at the statement; scoff at the notion"). The verb can also mean to treat with contempt or to mock. Naysayers scoff at all kinds of theories, and grouchy old men tend to scoff for the heck of it.

Example Sentences

Scoff if you must at lounge singers who perform, at times, in venues as modest as a Thai restaurant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025

Scoff if you must, but I think I’ve just come up with the plot to the next M. Night Shyamalan movie.

From Slate • Aug. 2, 2021

“Everybody’s starting to appreciate what a good team we have,” said captain Scoff Arfield.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 16, 2019

Scoff if you will, but Elvis had a well-chronicled connection to pandas.

From Washington Post • Sep. 13, 2015

Scoff not at the natural defects of any, which are not in their power to amend.

From Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, Vol. 15 by Various

Related Words

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