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Definition of pratfall

pratfall

/ˈprætˌfɔːl/
prat · fall
Plural:pratfalls
•
Past Simple:pratfelled
•
Past Participle:pratfallen
•
Present Participle:pratfalling
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pratfall Lexical Profile

pratfall Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A fall onto one's buttocks, especially when performed deliberately as a comedic or slapstick stunt.

Example

"The silent film star was famous for executing a perfectly timed pratfall on the icy sidewalk."

2

A humiliating blunder, mistake, or failure.

Example

"The company's botched product launch was a major public relations pratfall."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• verb

1

To fall onto one's buttocks, or to suffer a humiliating blunder.

Example

"The clown pratfelled across the stage to the delight of the young audience."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for pratfall

• Nearby Words

prat
prate
prater
pratfall
pratincole
prattle
prattlebox

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in American theatrical slang in the 1930s as a compound of 'prat' (a 16th-century British cant term for the buttocks) and 'fall'.

Cite this Entry

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