boffin

[bof-in]

noun

British Slang.

1. a scientist or technical expert.

boffin

/ ˈbɒfɪn /

noun

1. 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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of boffin¹

First recorded in 1940–45; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of boffin¹

C20: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

The IMF's boffins say they can start to see the impact from space as satellites track fewer, increasingly empty ships leaving China's ports.

From BBC

In that reused Red Box will be a boffin’s Budget.

From BBC

The boffins got to work into the night.

From BBC

“It fits into this idea that a group of boffins with a bit of wool and some yards of wire and some bits and bobs can win the war,” he said.

From Seattle Times

Fair play to the historians, and their big boffin heads, but we're not buying it.

From BBC