# Pratt

/ˈpɹæt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pratt
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a debunked argument

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal · Slang

Stands for Point Refuted At Thousand Times. You use this for an argument that has been proven wrong many times but people still use it.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Point Refuted At Thousand Times. A term used in online debates to describe a fallacious argument that persists despite being repeatedly debunked.

- He tried to use that old pratt about taxes, but nobody believed him.
- The forum moderator dismissed the user's claim as a mere pratt, noting that the community had debunked that specific statistic in numerous previous threads.

### 2. a surname

noun · CEFR B2

a common last name in English-speaking countries.

For teachers: A surname of English, Scottish, or Irish origin. A proper noun that is countable when referring to members of a family.

- Mr. Pratt is the new history teacher at our school.
- The Pratt family has resided in this county for generations, maintaining a significant influence over local agricultural policy.

### 3. a trick or prank

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an old way of spelling 'prat', meaning a trick or a joke played on someone.

For teachers: An alternative spelling of 'prat', referring to a trick, prank, or piece of mischief. This spelling is largely obsolete in modern contexts.

- The old story tells of a clever pratt played on the greedy king.
- In the seventeenth-century manuscript, the protagonist is described as a master of the pratt, frequently outwitting his rivals through elaborate deceptions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.