boffin

[ bof-in ]

/ ˈbɒf ɪn /

Save This Word!

noun British Slang.

a scientist or technical expert.

QUIZ

ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ

There's an ocean of difference between the way people speak English in the US vs. the UK. Are your language skills up to the task of telling the difference? Let's find out!

Question 1 of 7

True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of boffin

First recorded in 1940–45; origin uncertain

Words nearby boffin

Boer War, boet, Boethius, boeuf bourguignon, boff, boffin, boffo, Bofors gun, bog, Bogalusa, bogan

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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

British informal a scientist, esp one carrying out military research

a person who has extensive skill or knowledge in a particular fielda Treasury boffin

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

Word Origin for boffin

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