spoof Definition
- 1a humorous imitation of something, typically a film or a particular genre of film, in which its characteristic features are exaggerated for comic effect
- 2a trick played on someone as a joke
Using spoof: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "spoof" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The movie is a spoof of the James Bond series.
Example
The article was a spoof of a scientific paper.
Example
He played a spoof on his friend by pretending to be someone else on the phone.
spoof Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for spoof
- parody
- satire
- lampoon
- caricature
- burlesque
Antonyms for spoof
Idioms Using spoof
Example
He spent the whole day spoofing off instead of studying for his exams.
spoof-proof
unable to be fooled or deceived by a spoof
Example
The new security system is spoof-proof and can detect fake fingerprints.
a phone number that has been changed to appear as a different number on the recipient's caller ID
Example
He received a call from a spoofed number claiming to be from the IRS.
Phrases with spoof
Example
He made a spoof call to his friend pretending to be a celebrity.
spoof website
a website that imitates another website with the intention of deceiving visitors
Example
The spoof website looked like a legitimate news site but contained fake news stories.
an email that appears to be from a legitimate source but is actually sent by a scammer with the intention of stealing personal information
Example
He received a spoof email asking him to update his bank account information.
Origins of spoof
originally used in the sense of a game played by young men in the 1880s, from Dutch 'spoefen' meaning to 'mock, cheat'
Summary: spoof in Brief
A 'spoof' [spo͞of] is a humorous imitation of something, often a film or genre, where its defining features are exaggerated for comic effect. It can also refer to a practical joke played on someone. Examples include 'The movie is a spoof of the James Bond series' and 'He played a spoof on his friend by pretending to be someone else on the phone.' 'Spoof' extends into phrases like 'spoof call,' and idioms like 'spoof off,' denoting wasting time, and 'spoof-proof,' indicating something that cannot be fooled.