poof¹

[poo f, poof]

interjection

(used to express or indicate a sudden disappearance): Poof! The magician made the rabbit disappear.
pooh¹(def 1).

Origin of poof¹

First recorded in 1815–25

poof²

[poof, poo f]

noun British Slang.

Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a male homosexual.
Offensive. an effeminate male.

Also pooff, pouf, poove, poof·ter.

Origin of poof²

1840–50; < French pouffe pouf¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for poof

Contemporary Examples

You believe that your body can make everything good; just one glimpse of your sculpted, toned beauty and—poof!
Justin Bieber's Abs Cannot Save Him
Tim Teeman
September 10, 2014
The magic of landing my first role on Broadway went “poof” in a matter of a few weeks.
Uzo Aduba: My Road to ‘Orange Is the New Black’
Uzoamaka Aduba
August 4, 2014
Someone wins an election and, poof, they are a candidate for vice president.
Scott Walker May Be the GOP’s New Darling, but There’s No Way He’ll Be on Romney’s Ticket
Mark McKinnon
June 7, 2012
And poof, the horrifying details of violent forced sex disappear.
A Bleak Day for Rape Victims
Cheryl Thomas
August 23, 2011
Exogenously higher income"—that is, wealth that comes, poof, out of the blue—"produces unhealthy living.
Lotto Death Curse
Anneli Rufus
February 19, 2010

Historical Examples

But somewhere you will find a door and there will be three steps behind it, and poof!
Journeys to Bagdad
Charles S. Brooks
All these girls are too young, or too poof, or too pretty; for surely we must think of that top, my son.
The Devil's Pool
George Sand
"Poof to United States," said the little man, snapping his fingers.
A Voyage with Captain Dynamite
Charles Edward Rich
He had volunteered this service and accomplish it he must, in face of all obstacles, or poof!
The Carpet from Bagdad
Harold MacGrath
Thinking of fresh yams and fruit, I pulled off the leaves, and there—poof!
Tropic Days
E. J. Banfield

British Dictionary definitions for poof

poof

poove

noun

British derogatory, slang a male homosexual

Derived Formspoofy, adjective

Word Origin

C20: from French pouffe puff

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for poof

n.2

"effeminate man, male homosexual," c.1850, perhaps a corruption of puff. The Australian extended form poofter is attested from 1910.

n.1

sound of a puff of breath or air, 1824, imitative.

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Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}poof1

poof2

Origin of poof2

Examples from the Web for poof

Contemporary Examples

You believe that your body can make everything good; just one glimpse of your sculpted, toned beauty and—poof!

The magic of landing my first role on Broadway went “poof” in a matter of a few weeks.

Someone wins an election and, poof, they are a candidate for vice president.

And poof, the horrifying details of violent forced sex disappear.

Exogenously higher income"—that is, wealth that comes, poof, out of the blue—"produces unhealthy living.

Historical Examples

But somewhere you will find a door and there will be three steps behind it, and poof!

All these girls are too young, or too poof, or too pretty; for surely we must think of that top, my son.

"Poof to United States," said the little man, snapping his fingers.

He had volunteered this service and accomplish it he must, in face of all obstacles, or poof!

Thinking of fresh yams and fruit, I pulled off the leaves, and there—poof!