doofus

or du·fus

[ doo-fuh s ]

/ ˈdu fəs /

noun, plural doo·fus·es.

Slang. a foolish or inept person.

Nearby words

doodah, doodle, doodlebug, doodlesack, doodly-squat, doofus, doohan, doohickey, dook, dooket, doolally

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
“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|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for doofus

doofus

/ (ˈduːfəs) /

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