hoax
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a plan to trick people into believing something that is not true.
n.a deliberate fabrication or deceptive act intended to mislead others, often involving a public or widespread audience.
Simple“The video of the sea monster turned out to be a clever hoax.”
In context“The scientific community was outraged to discover that the fossil was a sophisticated hoax designed to gain fame for the researchers.”
UsageOften used with the verbs 'play', 'perpetrate', or 'expose'.
- 02 C1 Advanced
v.to trick someone by making them believe a lie.
v.to deceive someone through a maliciously or mischievously fabricated story or event.
Simple“The public was hoaxed into believing that the radio play was a real news report.”
In context“The investigation revealed how the investors had been systematically hoaxed by the company's falsified financial statements.”
UsageUsually used in the passive voice ('to be hoaxed').
“It seemed like a joke, a hoax, when at 10pm on 19 June, Ravenna broke the news of Ronaldinho’s signing .”
Reportedly a form of hocus. Possibly from hocus-pocus or Latin iocus (“joke”). Compare hokey.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.