chump

¹ American  

[chuhmp] / tʃʌmp /

noun

• chumps
  plural

1. Informal. a stupid person; dolt.

   Don't be a chump—she's kidding you along.

2. a short, thick piece of wood.

3. the thick, blunt end of anything.

4. Slang. the head.

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idioms

1. off one's chump, crazy.

chump ² American  

[chuhmp] / tʃʌmp /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to bite or chew; munch.

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chump ¹ British  

/ tʃʌmp /

noun

1. informal a stupid person

2. a thick heavy block of wood

3. 1. the thick blunt end of anything, esp of a piece of meat

   2. ( as modifier )

      a chump chop

4. slang the head (esp in the phrase off one's chump )

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chump ² British  

/ tʃʌmp /

verb

1. a less common word for chomp

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• chumpishness
  noun
• chumpish
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• chumps
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of chump¹

1695–1705; perhaps blend of chunk ¹ and lump ¹

Origin of chump²

First recorded in 1850–55; variant of champ ¹

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Explanation

A chump is a sucker or a fool — someone who is very gullible. If a con artist cheats you out of money, you may end up feeling like a chump. Chump is a very informal word for someone who falls for every trick and scheme, or who believes everything you tell them. If you get an email from an African prince asking for your bank account information so he can give you a lot of money, and you respond excitedly, ready to collect the cash, you're a chump. This meaning of chump first appeared in the 1880s — earlier, the word meant "short, thick piece of wood."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chump chumps

Meanwhile, the buttering up risks making Mr. Trump look like a chump if the Chinese don’t give him something in return.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

That’s not chump change — and it could require pulling back on discretionary spending such as dining out or travel, or redirecting any future raises, bonuses or tax refunds toward your retirement fund.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 7, 2026

But everyone surely found out immediately after the fact, making her look like a total chump for having just given a sweeping address as the supposed head of homeland security.

From Slate ● Mar. 5, 2026

What is clear is that the Angels got back some chump change for the four players claimed today but the cost in prospects to acquire them might be immeasurable.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2023

I wish one fifty was chump change for me.

From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas

Older Americans who’ve spent decades building nest eggs in those accounts would feel like chumps.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

Jack Milne, heroic at the heart of an Aberdeen defence that performed a miraculous metamorphosis from mistake-ridden chumps to hugely resilient champs.

From BBC ● May 24, 2025

The former Gladiators who felt exploited by the show don’t want to be seen as chumps.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 30, 2023

In a 24-17 homecoming loss to UCLA, the Huskies looked like champions, but played like chumps.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 16, 2021

There were enough chump gamblers that hung around John Hughes’ for a good gambler to make a living off them; chumps that worked, usually.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

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