oaf

American  

[ohf] / oʊf /

noun

1. a clumsy, stupid person; lout.

   Synonyms:

   boor, churl

2. a simpleton; dunce; blockhead.

   Synonyms:

   ninny, dolt

3. Archaic.

   1. a deformed or mentally deficient child.

   2. a changeling.

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oaf British  

/ əʊf /

noun

1. a stupid or loutish person

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Related Words

See boorish ( def. ).

Other Word Forms

• oafish adjective
• oafishly adverb
• oafishness noun

Etymology

Origin of oaf

1615–25; variant of auf, Middle English alfe, Old English ælf elf; cognate with German Alp nightmare

Example Sentences

“Hope he’s not as big an oaf as his father,” grumbled Hadel.

From Literature

She scrutinized the vicissitudes of the New York City Ballet as well as the feats of the ballroom-dancing pros and celebrity oafs of the popular TV series, “Dancing With the Stars.”

From New York Times

The venture left Stanford one of the world’s wealthiest men, though not, Harris suggests, by his own merit, especially “given the amount of financial chicanery going on” and his reputation as a “big oaf.”

From Washington Post

I just have the sense that life is just this clumsy oaf.

From Salon

“I’ve never tried to avoid that. I’m not some remorseless oaf.”

From Seattle Times