pass off

verb

passed off; passing off; passes off

transitive verb

1
: to make public or offer for sale with intent to deceive
2
: to give a false identity or character to

Examples of pass off in a Sentence

the con man tried to pass off a piece of blue glass as a sapphire
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The film’s last half-hour collapses into an unfunny, extended appearance by that aforementioned legacy artist — the kind of star cameo that The Simpsons often succumbs to these days, passing off a famous person playing themselves as the height of comedy. A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024 Shopping secondhand isn’t the same as re-gifting (like passing off last week’s ugly sweater to someone else). Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 28 Nov. 2024 Graham Mertz completed 7 of 10 passes off play-action for two touchdowns after throwing off play-action just nine times through the first five games. Jesse Temple, The Athletic, 22 Nov. 2024 The Times reports the Trump campaign’s low spending may be by design, as filings show the campaign appears to have passed off many traditional campaign expenses—like payroll and venues for Trump’s campaign rallies—to other groups affiliated with the campaign and RNC. Alison Durkee, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pass off 

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pass off was in 1681

Dictionary Entries Near pass off

Cite this Entry

“Pass off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pass%20off. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

pass off

verb
: to give a false identity to : describe untruthfully

Legal Definition

pass off

transitive verb
1
: to make public or offer for sale (goods or services) with intent to deceive : palm off
passing his product off as that of the plaintiff'sW. L. Prosser and W. P. Keeton
see also unfair competition
2
: to give a false identity or character to
they created the documents on the day of the trial and passed them off as being made earlier

More from Merriam-Webster on pass off

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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