stooge

UK: /ˈstuːdʒ/ US: /studʒ/ ,(sto̅o̅j)

Inflections of 'stooge' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

stooges

v 3rd person singular

stooging

v pres p

stooged

v past

stooged

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

stooge /studʒ/   n. [countable]

1. an entertainer who feeds lines to a comedian and serves as the target of jokes.
2. an assistant, as in performing a crime.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

stooge (sto̅o̅j),  n., v., stooged, stoog•ing. 

n. 

1. an entertainer who feeds lines to the main comedian and usually serves as the butt of his or her jokes.
2. any underling, assistant, or accomplice.

v.i. 

3. to act as a stooge.

• origin, originally uncertain 1910–15, American.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

stooge / stuːdʒ/ noun

1. an actor who feeds lines to a comedian or acts as a foil or butt
2. someone who is taken advantage of by another

verb (intransitive)

1. to act as a stooge

Etymology: 20th Century: of unknown origin