hoax

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English

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Etymology

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This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Reportedly a form of hocus. Possibly from hocus-pocus or Latin iocus (joke). Compare hokey.

Pronunciation

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Verb

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hoax (third-person singular simple present hoaxes, present participle hoaxing, simple past and past participle hoaxed)

  1. (transitive) To deceive (someone) by making them believe something that has been maliciously or mischievously fabricated.

Derived terms

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Noun

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hoax (plural hoaxes)

  1. Anything deliberately intended to deceive or trick.
    The phone call to the police about a tiger in a tree turned out to be a hoax.
    The news story about the pop singer coming to town, unfortunately for his fans, turned out to be a hoax.

Synonyms

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  • (deliberately false story or report): canard

Derived terms

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Translations

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