Dictionary

goof en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• /ɡuːf/

Etymology

Perhaps from dialectal English goff (“foolish clown”), from earlier goffe, in which case further etymology is uncertain. Perhaps from Middle English goffen (“to speak in a frivolous manner”), possibly from Old English gaf, ġegaf (“base; wanton; lewd”, adjective), ġegaf (“buffoonery; scurrility”, noun), gaffetung, golfettung (“buffoonery; mockery”). Compare English dialectal gauffin (“lightheaded; foolish; giddy”), Scots gaff, gawf (“to talk loudly; babble”), Scots gaffaw (“a loud laugh”). Alternatively, perhaps from Middle French goffe (“awkward; stupid”). Compare also Spanish gofo, Italian goffo.

Meanings

1. (US, informal) A mistake or error.
   • I made a goof in that last calculation.
2. (US, informal) A mistake or error. ▸ An error made during production which finds its way into the final release.
3. (Canada, US, informal) A foolish and/or silly person; a goofball.
   • Your little brother is a total goof.
4. (Canada, slang) A rapist.

Forms

Synonyms

boo-boo · slip · fault · mistake · wrength · gaffe · thinko · mistake · faux pas · mess-up · clanger · thinko · aberration · break · blooper · mistake · blooper · lapse · cock-up · break · erroneity · clanger · slip-up · faux pas · mess-up · flub · bloomer · misadventure · mistake · fluff · fuckup · screwup · wrength · thinko · inaccuracy · slipup · fuckup · error · fluff · error · error · lapsus · floater · erroneity · howler · oopsy · blunder · blooper · lapse · thinko · misstep · misadventure · blooper · slip · misstep · slipup · inaccuracy · screwup · boo-boo · error · flub · bloomer · faux pas · slip-up · solecism · blunder · stumble · disadventure · slip · fluff · disadventure · gaffe · boo-boo · fluff · slip · solecism · faux pas · cock-up · stumble · gaffe · lapse · stumble · lapsus · stumble · aberration · howler · boo-boo · gaffe · oopsy · fault · floater · boner · goof · lapse · goof · boner

Translations (64)

fi virhe (a mistake or error) · sv tabbe (a mistake or error) · bg гаф (a mistake or error) · sv nöt (a foolish person) · ru ду́рень (a foolish person) · pt falha (an error made during production which finds its way into the final release) · pl bęcwał (a foolish person) · sv dåre (a foolish person) · ru крети́н (a foolish person) · ru оши́бка (a mistake or error) · pt tonto (a foolish person) · ru болва́н (a foolish person) · ru остоло́п (a foolish person) · cs bota (a mistake or error) · ru дура́к (a foolish person) · pt bobo (a foolish person) · sv trindskalle (a foolish person) · ru тупи́ца (a foolish person) · sv peddo (child molester) · bg глупак (a foolish person) · it fuori di testa (a foolish person) · sv tok (a foolish person) · sv dumbom (a foolish person) · fi tollo (a foolish person) · cs pitomec (a foolish person) · fi hölmö (a foolish person) · pl babol (a mistake or error) · sv jöns (a foolish person) · da tumpe (a foolish person) · ru растли́тель (child molester) · it sbaglio (a mistake or error) · sv tjockskalle (a foolish person) · sv fel (a mistake or error) · it tonto (a foolish person) · et viga (a mistake or error) · sv stolle (a foolish person) · fi moka (a mistake or error) · sv dumskalle (a foolish person) · sv dumsnut (a foolish person) · fr gaffe (a mistake or error) · sv pucko (a foolish person) · ru опло́шность (a mistake or error) · fi munaus (a mistake or error) · sv pappskalle (a foolish person) · sv knasboll (a foolish person) · sv knäppskalle (a foolish person) · ru педофи́л (child molester) · cs hloupá chyba (a mistake or error) · sv misstag (a mistake or error) · fr boulet (a foolish person) · cs blbec (a foolish person) · pt gafe (a mistake or error) · sv knäppgök (a foolish person) · sv dummerjöns (a foolish person) · sv träskalle (a foolish person) · sv fårskalle (a foolish person) · ru лох (a foolish person) · fa گاف (a mistake or error) · sv blådåre (a foolish person) · ru растли́тельница (child molester) · sv ärthjärna (a foolish person) · fr coquille (an error made during production which finds its way into the final release) · sv dummer (a foolish person) · it errore (a mistake or error)

goof en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• /ɡuːf/

Etymology

Perhaps from dialectal English goff (“foolish clown”), from earlier goffe, in which case further etymology is uncertain. Perhaps from Middle English goffen (“to speak in a frivolous manner”), possibly from Old English gaf, ġegaf (“base; wanton; lewd”, adjective), ġegaf (“buffoonery; scurrility”, noun), gaffetung, golfettung (“buffoonery; mockery”). Compare English dialectal gauffin (“lightheaded; foolish; giddy”), Scots gaff, gawf (“to talk loudly; babble”), Scots gaffaw (“a loud laugh”). Alternatively, perhaps from Middle French goffe (“awkward; stupid”). Compare also Spanish gofo, Italian goffo.

Meanings

1. (US) To make a mistake.
   • It's my fault. I goofed.
   • GCN is in a sticky situation because we goofed and bought 10 pounds of a type of wax that we cannot use. 1986 August 9, “Attention Art World”, in Gay Community News, page 13:
2. (US) To engage in mischief.
   • We were just goofing by painting the neighbor's cat green.

Forms

Deriveds

goofery · goof on · goofproof · goofish · goofball · goofy · goof around · goof-off · goofus · goof off · goof up · goofer

Synonyms

goof around

Translations (21)

fi töpätä (to make a mistake) · fi keppostella (to engage in mischief) · bg оплесквам (to make a mistake) · ru попа́сть впроса́к (to make a mistake) · la erro (to make a mistake) · fi möhliä (to make a mistake) · ru попада́ть впроса́к (to make a mistake) · it sbagliare (to make a mistake) · sv göra en tabbe (to make a mistake) · fi tyriä (to make a mistake) · ru опростоволо́ситься (to make a mistake) · fi kolttostella (to engage in mischief) · fi jekkuilla (to engage in mischief) · fi mokata (to make a mistake) · sv tabba (to make a mistake) · fi metkuilla (to engage in mischief) · it prendere una cantonata (to engage in mischief) · de fehlen (to make a mistake) · cs udělat botu (to make a mistake) · bg обърквам (to make a mistake) · it errare (to make a mistake)