doofus

American  

[doo-fuhs] / ˈdu fəs /

Or dufus

noun

doofuses plural

1. Slang. a foolish or inept person.

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doofus British  

/ ˈduːfəs /

noun

1. informal a slow-witted or stupid person

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• doofuses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of doofus

An Americanism daing back to 1960–65; probably alteration of earlier goofus in same sense

Explanation

A doofus is a dummy or a simpleton — in other words, a goofy person who's not very smart. You might decide not to buy a top hat and suspenders after trying them on, looking in a mirror, and realizing you look like a doofus. Use the informal doofus when someone acts with stupidity or does something ridiculous and unthinking. If your brother angrily accuses you of stealing his favorite sunglasses, you can say, "You mean the ones on your head, doofus?" The word was originally 1960s US student slang, and it's thought to be modeled after goofus, an older term with a similar meaning, or to stem from the Scots doof, or "dolt."

Example Sentences

Blake Lively referred to Justin Baldoni as a "doofus director" and a "clown", according to newly unsealed court documents from the actress's legal case.

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026

On UPN’s “Malcolm & Eddie,” which premiered in 1996, he’s the straight man to Eddie Griffin’s frenetic doofus.

From Salon • Jul. 23, 2025

Particularly well served by the writers are Doi, the resident mordant wit, and Donovan as the doofus — in Kutcher’s old job, basically.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 18, 2023

Baby is utterly baffled by your unintelligible warble and your shamelessly doofus grin, but “baby so cuuuuuute!”

From New York Times • Jul. 24, 2022

I was tired and didn’t want to hear Jeff say anything about Jessica, and then find myself laughing five minutes later at some doofus thing he did.

From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott