rip-off

1 of 2

noun

ˈrip-ˌȯf 

1

: an act or instance of stealing : theft

also : a financial exploitation

2

: a usually cheap exploitive imitation

rip off

2 of 2

verb

ripped off; ripping off; rips off

transitive verb

1

a

: rob

also : cheat, defraud

b

: steal

2

: to copy or imitate blatantly or unscrupulously

3

: to perform, achieve, or score quickly or easily

ripped off 10 straight points

Synonyms

Noun

• grab
• heist
• pinch
• snatching
• swiping
• theft

Verb

• burglarize
• burgle
• knock off
• knock over
• rob
• steal (from)
• take off [slang]

Examples of rip-off in a Sentence

Noun

a daring burglary of the art museum that resulted in one of the greatest rip-offs in history

Verb

the teens ripped off the store where they had been working for the summer

the thief ripped off some jewelry as soon as no one was looking

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The 1980 original spawned 10 sequels, a remake, and innumerable rip-offs. —Katie Rife, EW.com, 29 Oct. 2024

Fede Álvarez understands that there’s a thin line between an homage, a follow-up and a rip-off. —Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 15 Aug. 2024

Verb

Jacobs ripped off a 37-yard run in the first half when Rasheed Walker and Jordan Morgan cleared a hole and Tucker Kraft delivered a terrific downfield block. —Rob Reischel, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024

Filmmakers are still ripping off Rob Bottin's gruesomely inventive special effects, the excess of which contrasts with the tightly wound paranoia of the story. —Katie Rife, EW.com, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1969, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1967, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

rip-off

1 of 2 noun

ˈrip-ˌȯf

: an act or an instance of ripping off

rip off

2 of 2 verb

ˈrip-ˈȯf

1

: rob sense 1a

also : to cheat someone : defraud

2

: steal entry 1 sense 2a