goof

1 of 2

noun

ˈgüf 

1

: a silly or stupid person

2

: blunder

goof

2 of 2

verb

goofed; goofing; goofs

intransitive verb

1

a

: to spend time idly or foolishly

—usually used with off

goofing off instead of working

b

: to engage in playful activity

—usually used with around

goofing around after school

2

: to make a usually foolish or careless mistake : blunder

—often used with up

transitive verb

: to make a mess of : bungle

—usually used with up

goofed up the assignment

Phrases

goof on

slang

: to make fun of : kid, put on

you're goofing on me, right?

Synonyms

Noun

• blunder
• bobble
• boo-boo
• boob [British]
• brick
• clanger [British]
• clinker
• error
• fault
• flub
• fluff
• fumble
• gaff
• gaffe
• inaccuracy
• lapse
• miscue
• misstep
• mistake
• oversight
• screwup
• slip
• slipup
• stumble
• trip

Verb

• bum
• chill
• dally
• dawdle
• dillydally
• drone
• footle
• hack (around)
• hang (around or out)
• hang about [British]
• idle
• kick around
• kick back
• laze
• lazy
• loaf
• loll
• lounge
• veg out

Examples of goof in a Sentence

Noun

Don't be such a goof.

I made a major goof.

Verb

It was clear that someone had goofed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Kevin Rodríguez rectified Valencia’s goof with a wild stoppage time goal to send the match to penalty kicks (Copa America is not doing an extra period, unlike Euros). —Chris Branch, The Athletic, 5 July 2024

There is a nice goof on Marty, and at one point, Moe channels Curly after a passionate kiss. —Donald Liebenson, Vulture, 14 June 2024

Verb

Stars George Clooney and Brad Pitt were in the news a lot around its September release, but mostly because of their salaries and their goofing off in Venice. —Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 12 Dec. 2024

The Maysles brothers and their cameras became a fly on the wall through all of it, much of the time with the boys goofing off in hotel rooms while teenage girls camped outside the Plaza Hotel were trying to figure out ways to get closer to them. —Pete Hammond, Deadline, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably alteration of English dialect goff simpleton

First Known Use

Noun

1915, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1932, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing goof

• goof around
• goof-off
• goof on

Kids Definition

goof

1 of 2 noun

ˈgüf 

1

: a silly or stupid person

2

: blunder entry 2

goof

2 of 2 verb

1

a

: to spend time foolishly

goofing off instead of working

b

: to engage in a playful activity

goofing around after school

2

: blunder entry 1 sense 2

3

: to make a mess of : bungle

goofed up the assignment

Etymology

Noun

probably an altered form of dialect word goff "simpleton"