chaff

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈchaf 

1

: the seed coverings and other debris separated from the seed in threshing grain

2

: something comparatively worthless

a few kernels of wisdom amid much discursive chaff

—Steven Raichlen

3

: the scales borne on the receptacle among the florets in the heads of many composite plants

4

: material (such as strips of foil or clusters of fine wires) ejected into the air for reflecting radar waves (as for confusing an enemy's radar detection)

planes equipped with chaff dispensers

chaffy

ˈcha-fē 

adjective

chaff

2 of 3

noun (2)

: light jesting talk : banter

chaff

3 of 3

verb

chaffed; chaffing; chaffs

transitive verb

: to tease good-naturedly

intransitive verb

: jest, banter

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• deadwood
• debris
• dreck
• drek
• dross
• dust
• effluvium
• effluvia
• garbage
• junk
• litter
• offal
• offscouring
• raffle
• refuse
• riffraff
• rubbish
• scrap
• spilth
• trash
• truck
• waste

Noun (2)

• backchat
• badinage
• banter
• give-and-take
• jesting
• joshing
• persiflage
• raillery
• repartee

Verb

• jive
• joke
• josh
• kid
• rally
• razz
• rib
• ride
• roast
• tease

Examples of chaff in a Sentence

Noun (1)

there's a lot of chaff in this book, and the reader should be on the alert for it

Noun (2)

I got no end of chaff about my accent when I was in the military

Verb

chaffed her about the brightly colored shirt she had received as a gift

a coworker who likes to chaff at others' expense, and this often results in hurt feelings

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Not wind but a chaff of pollen choking in that whirl. —David Baker, The Atlantic, 8 Dec. 2024

So to me, it’s always been the later draft rounds that separate the fantasy wheat from the chaff. —John Laghezza, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024

The same goes for a whole host of other digital solutions designed to help separate the chaff from the wheat. —Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024

Station execs didn’t think much of horror hosts and B-movie chaff. —Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English chaf, from Old English ceaf; akin to Old High German cheva husk

Noun (2)

probably from chaff entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1821, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1820, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing chaff

• separate the wheat from the chaff

Kids Definition

chaff

1 of 3 noun

ˈchaf 

1

: the seed coverings and other debris separated from the seed in threshing grain

2

: something worthless

chaffy

-ē 

adjective

chaff

2 of 3 noun

: light joking talk : banter

chaff

3 of 3 verb

: to tease good-naturedly