scoff

UK: /ˈskɒf/ US: /skɔf, skɑf/ ,(skôf, skof )

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

scoff¹ /skɔf, skɑf/   v. [~ + at + object]

1. to mock;
   jeer:
   scoffed at the idea that a woman could become president.

scoff² /skɔf, skɑf/   v. [~ + object] ,[Slang.]

1. to eat hungrily, greedily, or very quickly.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

scoff¹  (skôf, skof ), v.i. 

1. 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. 

2. to mock at;
   deride.

n. 

3. an expression of mockery, derision, doubt, or derisive scorn;
   jeer.
4. an object of mockery or derision.

• 1300–50; Middle English scof; origin, originally uncertain, but compare Old Norse skopa to scorn

scoff′er, n. 
scoff′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 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.

Antonyms

• 3. praise.

scoff²  (skôf, skof ), [Slang.]
v.i., v.t. 

1. to eat voraciously.

n. 

2. food;
   grub.

• 1855–60; earlier scaff; origin, originally uncertain

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

scoff / skɒf/ verb

1. (intransitive) often followed by at: to speak contemptuously (about); express derision (for); mock
2. (transitive) to regard with derision

noun

1. an expression of derision
2. an object of derision

Etymology: 14th Century: probably from Scandinavian; compare Old Frisian skof mockery, Danish skof, skuf jest

ˈscoffer noun

ˈscoffing adjective

scoff / skɒf/ verb

1. to eat (food) fast and greedily; devour

noun

1. food or rations

Etymology: 19th Century: variant of scaff food; related to Afrikaans, Dutch schoft quarter of the day, one of the four daily meals