- (intransitive) often followed by at: to speak contemptuously (about); express derision (for); mock
- (transitive) obsolete to regard with derision
- an expression of derision
- an object of derision
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
scoff1 /skɔf, skɑf/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + at + object]
scoff2 /skɔf, skɑf/USA pronunciation v. [~ + object],[Slang.]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to mock;
jeer:scoffed at the idea that a woman could become president.
scoff2 /skɔf, skɑf/USA pronunciation v. [~ + object],[Slang.]
- to eat hungrily, greedily, or very quickly.
scoff1
(skôf, skof ),USA pronunciation v.i.
v.t.
n.
scoff′er, n.
scoff′ing•ly, adv.
scoff2 (skôf, skof ),USA pronunciation [Slang.]
v.i., v.t.
n.
- to speak derisively;
mock;
jeer (often fol. by at):If you can't do any better, don't scoff. Their efforts toward a peaceful settlement are not to be scoffed at.
v.t.
- to mock at;
deride.
n.
- an expression of mockery, derision, doubt, or derisive scorn;
jeer. - an object of mockery or derision.
- 1300–50; Middle English scof; origin, originally uncertain, but compare Old Norse skopa to scorn
scoff′ing•ly, adv.
- 1. gibe. Scoff, jeer, sneer imply behaving with scornful disapproval toward someone or about something. To scoff is to express insolent doubt or derision, openly and emphatically:to scoff at a new invention.To jeer suggests expressing disapproval and scorn more loudly, coarsely, and unintelligently than in scoffing:The crowd jeered when the batter struck out.To sneer is to show by facial expression or tone of voice ill-natured contempt or disparagement:He sneered unpleasantly in referring to his opponent's misfortunes.
- 3. praise.
scoff2 (skôf, skof ),USA pronunciation [Slang.]
v.i., v.t.
- to eat voraciously.
n.
- food;
grub.
- 1855–60; earlier scaff; origin, originally uncertain
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
scoff /skɒf/ vb
scoff /skɒf/ informal chiefly Brit vb
- to eat (food) fast and greedily; devour
- food or rations
'scoff at' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):