dud

American  

[duhd] / dʌd /

noun

1. Informal. a device, person, or enterprise that proves to be a failure.

   Synonyms:

   flop, bomb, fizzle, debacle, fiasco

2. a shell or missile that fails to explode after being fired.

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dud British  

/ dʌd /

noun

1. a person or thing that proves ineffectual or a failure

2. a shell, etc, that fails to explode

3. old-fashioned (plural) clothes or other personal belongings

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adjective

1. failing in its purpose or function

   a dud cheque

Etymology

Origin of dud

1815–25; special use of dud, singular of duds

Explanation

Something that doesn't work the way it's supposed to is a dud. A bomb or firework that doesn't explode is one kind of dud. A bad blind date is another kind. When a bomb fails to explode, it's a dud. A long-planned surprise party that fails miserably when the guest of honor doesn't show up is another kind of dud. You can also refer to a person as a dud, if they're an utter failure or a complete flop: "The lead actor was a total dud. He couldn't really sing or dance and he seemed nervous." In the 1800s, a dud was "a person in ragged clothing," from dudde, "cloak or mantle."

Example Sentences

The second-hand market for smartphones has surged in recent years, borne up by lower prices as well as interest in eco-friendly consumption even as some still fear buying a dud.

From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026

The promotional tour for the film was the first clue it was going to be a box office dud.

From Salon • Jan. 31, 2026

‘I’m completely disgusted by the lack of accountability’: I bought a dud mattress — twice.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 31, 2026

So, on a purely mechanical level, Dokoupil’s debut was a massive dud.

From Slate • Jan. 6, 2026

The twenty-third string was a dud, costing us one minute.

From "Looking for Alaska" by John Green

Related Words

• debacle
• flop