goof
goof Lexical Profile
goof Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A careless mistake, blunder, or minor error.
"The editor caught a minor printing goof on the front page before the magazine went to press."
North American A foolish, silly, or playfully eccentric person.
"My younger brother is a lovable goof who is always making funny faces at dinner."
• verb
North American To spend time idly, playfully, or foolishly (usually followed by 'around' or 'off').
"Instead of studying for the exam, they spent the whole afternoon goofing around in the park."
North American To make a careless mistake or blunder (often used with 'up').
"I really goofed when I wrote down the wrong date for the dentist appointment."
• Rhymes for goof
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the early 20th century as American slang, probably derived from English dialectal 'goff' (meaning a foolish clown or simpleton), which comes from Middle French 'goffe' (awkward or stupid) and Italian 'goffo'.