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Definition of hoax

hoax

/hoʊks/
hoax
Plural:hoaxes
•
Past Simple:hoaxed
•
Past Participle:hoaxed
•
Present Participle:hoaxing
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hoax Lexical Profile

hoax Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A humorous or malicious deception intended to trick people into believing something that is false or fabricated.

Example

"The famous photograph of the sea monster was eventually exposed as an elaborate hoax."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• verb

1

To trick or deceive someone by means of a fabricated story or counterfeit object.

Example

"The anonymous caller hoaxed the newspaper into publishing the fictitious report."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for hoax
Antonyms
View all antonyms for hoax

• Rhymes for hoax

• Nearby Words

hoarsely
hoarseness
hoatzin
hoax
hoaxer
hob
hobart

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the late 18th century, the word is widely believed to be a contraction of 'hocus', from the earlier conjurer's incantation 'hocus pocus', used to describe sleight of trickery or deception.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hoax. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hoax
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