verb
scoff
skof
verb
1
To speak about something with scorn or mockery, treating it as ridiculous.
"He scoffed at the idea that the plan could ever work."
"Critics scoffed when the small startup announced its ambitions."
2
British informal: to eat food quickly or greedily.
"He scoffed the entire pizza before anyone else got a slice."
noun
1
A mocking remark or expression of contempt.
"Her scoff made it clear she thought the idea was absurd."
How to Use Scoff
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo mock something dismissively, or (informally, mainly UK) to eat something fast.
When to use it
The "eat quickly" sense is informal and mostly British; American English would more likely say "scarf down" or "wolf down."
Common pairings
scoff at the idea
scoff at criticism
Word Forms
scoffed past tense, scoffed past tense, scoffs plural, scoffs plural, scoffs singular, scoffs singular
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Etymology
From Middle English scof, likely of North Germanic origin, related to Old Norse skaup, "mockery."