poof

¹ American  

[poof, poof] / pʊf, puf /

interjection

1. (used to express or indicate a sudden disappearance).

   Poof! The magician made the rabbit disappear.

2. pooh.

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poof ² American  

[poof, poof] / puf, pʊf /

Sometimes pooff; also pouf;

noun

British Slang.

1. Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a gay man.

2. Offensive. an effeminate male.

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poof British  

/ pʊf, puːf /

noun

1. derogatory a male homosexual

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Other Word Forms

• poofy adjective

Etymology

Origin of poof¹

First recorded in 1815–25

Origin of poof²

First recorded in 1840–50; from French pouffe “puff”; pouf ¹

Example Sentences

Oracle, on which a significant part of the family’s wealth depends, has seen a third of its market value go poof in 10 weeks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 2, 2025

I tap my phone to it, and Instagram goes poof.

From Slate • Sep. 5, 2025

“We started in 2017 on this bid and it just always seemed like it was a long way away. Then, all of sudden, poof, we’re at one year out.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2025

Pixar’s creative spark had apparently blown out — poof.

From New York Times • Oct. 3, 2023

All my life I’ve wondered what it’s like to know someone for forever then poof he’s gone.

From "Inside Out and Back Again" by Thanhha Lai