doofus

or du·fus

[doo-fuh s]

noun, plural doo·fus·es.

Slang. a foolish or inept person.

Compare goofus.

Origin of doofus

1960–65, Americanism; probably alteration of earlier goofus in same sense

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for doofus

Contemporary Examples of doofus

I hope that its success encourages others to look beyond the tired “doofus dad” tropes.
Move Over, Ladies: Dove Does Dads
Andy Hinds
June 17, 2014
As for the current team ... Mitt Romney: too much of a doofus.
Squishes, Step Aside: Ted Cruz and Chris Christie’s Old-School Manliness
Michelle Cottle
May 13, 2013
To this point, the Delaware doofus always seemed cloaked in an invincible air of likeability.
Joe Biden’s Rude Debate Laughter: The Joke’s on Him
Michael Medved
October 12, 2012
“OK, I feel like a doofus, but I cried through like half of that thing,” she admitted.
Watch Crying ‘Harry Potter’ Fans
The Daily Beast
July 16, 2011

British Dictionary definitions for doofus

doofus

noun

informal, mainly US a slow-witted or stupid person

Word Origin for doofus

C20: from Black slang

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

Word Origin and History for doofus

student slang, "dolt, idiot, nerd," by 1960s. "Dictionary of American Slang" says "probably related to doo-doo and goofus."