piffle

American  

[pif-uhl] / ˈpɪf əl /

noun

1. nonsense, as trivial or senseless talk.

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verb (used without object)

piffled, piffling

1. to talk nonsense.

piffle British  

/ ˈpɪfəl /

noun

1. nonsense

   to talk piffle

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verb

1. (intr) to talk or behave feebly

Etymology

Origin of piffle

First recorded in 1840–50; perhaps akin to puff

Example Sentences

I defy you to tell me what this blithering piffle actually means.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 21, 2025

For more than two hours, it pelts you with piffle so egregious — not just puns but also dad jokes, double entendres and booby-trapped one-liners — that, forced into submission, you eventually give in.

From New York Times • Apr. 4, 2023

In the middle of the season, that is just a piffle.

From Washington Times • Mar. 4, 2019

Perhaps it's too tall an order for such a piffle of a comedy, but “Johnny English Strikes Again” is at odds with itself when it comes to its messaging.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 25, 2018

Not that he minded kissing Mrs. Red House's hand in the least, especially as she seemed to think it was nice of him to—but the whole thing is such contemptible piffle.

From New Treasure Seekers or, The Bastable Children in Search of a Fortune by Nesbit, E. (Edith)