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

Synonyms

• fob off
• foist
• palm
• palm off
• wish

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

But there’s a reason most defensemen don’t take the chance of sailing a backhand pass off the wall under duress. —Aaron Portzline, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024

In 2022, a Spanish operation was dismantled that authorities said could have passed off as much as 40 million bottles of cheap table wine as finer tipples. —Chris Hall, WIRED, 18 Dec. 2024

This information was passed off to the DEA from an informant working for the airline who was being paid whenever agents seized cash based on their tips. —Andrew Wimer, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024

Somehow, Moss still managed to sling a pass off his back foot before all three came crashing down on him. —Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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's

—W. 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