scoff

Scoff is a verb with two primary senses in modern English. The first is to speak or act in a scornful, derisive way, often conveying contempt. It is commonly used with at, as in “to scoff at his ideas” or “they scoffed at the proposal,” implying dismissive ridicule. The second sense is informal and means to eat quickly and greedily, as in “she scoffed down her lunch.” As a verb, scoff can be transitive (scoff someone or something) or intransitive (scoff at or scoff, often followed by at or that).

Scoff can also function as a noun. A scoff is a derisive remark or expression, or the act of deriding someone or something. In use, one might refer to “a scoff from the crowd” or “a scoff at the idea.”

Usage notes include distinctions between the two main senses. The ridicule sense tends to appear in both formal and informal contexts, though it remains somewhat literary or emphatic compared with synonyms like mock or sneer. The eating sense is informal and primarily found in conversational English. The phrase “scoff at” conveys contempt or disbelief, while “scoff down” emphasizes brisk consumption.

Etymology is uncertain; the word appears in English from the Middle Ages, with the two senses developing over time to cover both mockery and rapid eating. Related terms include mock, ridicule, sneer, and deride.