hoax
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of hoax
First recorded in 1790–1800; perhaps contraction of hocus
Explanation
If you put on big fake feet, stomp through your muddy backyard and tell everyone you saw Bigfoot fixing a steak on your grill, you are playing a hoax on your friends. Hoax is believed to be a shortened version of hocus pocus, thus conveying the feeling of trickery and sleight of hand. April First, also known as April Fools' Day, is a day of hoaxes. Successful hoaxes in history: Orson Welles' War-of-the-Worlds radio broadcast in 1938 and the alien autopsy film footage made public in the 1990s. Do you believe the American moon landing in 1969 was a hoax? You're not alone. Six percent of Americans believe this event was staged.
Vocabulary lists containing hoax
Tricky Terms for April Fool's Day
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Stargirl
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The scandal wasn’t merely that hoax papers were published, but that they were indistinguishable from actual scholarship in those fields.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026
Thousands of fans had to be evacuated from the premises and alleged hoax had "serious repercussions" at an event with an expected crowd of almost 13,000 people, prosecutor Ros Buttler told the court.
From BBC • May 4, 2026
The documents describe an elaborate hoax in which the defendants allegedly created fake companies and fraudulent email accounts and driver’s licenses to help fool lenders into loaning them huge sums of money.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026
Further sowing online confusion were claims that the entire Artemis II mission was a hoax powered by artificial intelligence tools.
From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026
Meanwhile the nereid swam from the lap of Ocean laden with four sealskins, new flaved for the hoax she thought of playing on her father.
From "The Odyssey" by Homer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
