boffin
Americannoun
noun
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informal a scientist, esp one carrying out military research
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a person who has extensive skill or knowledge in a particular field
a Treasury boffin
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informal someone who is considered to be very clever, often to the exclusion of all non-academic interests
Etymology
Origin of boffin
First recorded in 1940–45; origin uncertain
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Fair play to the historians, and their big boffin heads, but we're not buying it.
From BBC • Jun. 18, 2021
Tellingly, the experimental gravity drive – invented by Sam Neill’s tormented boffin Dr Weir – resembles a gigantic gothic meat-grinder.
From The Guardian • Aug. 16, 2019
The boffin behind James Bond's lethal array of gadgets like car ejector-seats and exploding toothpaste - known only as "Q" - has always been portrayed in the 007 films as a man.
From Reuters • Jan. 26, 2017
In search of an answer, in 1795 the French government embraced crowd-sourcing, and offered a prize to any boffin able to solve the quandary.
From Time • Jun. 15, 2016
You refer to the New Caledonian crow as a boffin, or technological geek.
From National Geographic
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
