snafu
[ sna-foo, snaf-oo ]
/ snæˈfu, ˈsnæf u /
noun
a badly confused or ridiculously muddled situation: A ballot snafu in the election led to a recount.
adjective Rare.
in disorder; out of control; chaotic: a snafu scheme that simply won't work.
verb (used with object), sna·fued, sna·fu·ing. Rare.
to throw into disorder; muddle: Losing his passport snafued the whole vacation.
QUIZZES
HEED THE VOX POPULI, AND TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!
Test your memory on these verbal firecrackers from the week of June 29 to July 5!
Question 1 of 7
anchorite
Origin of snafu
1940–45; s(ituation) n(ormal): a(ll) f(ucked) u(p); sometimes euphemistically construed as f(ouled) u(p)
Words nearby snafu
snack, snack bar, snack table, snackette, snaffle, snafu, snag, snaggletooth, snaggy, snail, snail bore
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for snafu
British Dictionary definitions for snafu
snafu
/ (snæˈfuː) slang mainly military /
noun
confusion or chaos regarded as the normal state
adjective
(postpositive) confused or muddled up, as usual
verb -fus, -fuing or -fued
(tr) US and Canadian to throw into chaos
Word Origin for snafu
C20: from s (ituation) n (ormal): a (ll) f (ucked or ouled) u (p)
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