ENGLISH
REFERENCE

spoof

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈspuf// spoof Archaic Slang

n. a funny movie, book, or show that copies the style of something else to make fun of it. It is like a joke version of a serious story.

n. a humorous imitation of a film, book, or genre that exaggerates its characteristic features for comedic effect. In a computing context, it refers to a technique used to gain unauthorized access by imitating a trusted source.


SIMPLE

The movie is a funny spoof of classic spy films.

CONTEXTUAL

The comedian gained fame for his clever spoof of the nightly news, where he mocked the anchors' serious tones.

COMPLEX

While the film began as a lighthearted spoof of the horror genre, it eventually evolved into a sophisticated critique of the very tropes it initially sought to lampoon.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

Coined by the English comedian Arthur Roberts (1852–1933) in 1884 as the name of a card game involving deception and nonsense.

Etymology 2

Origin unknown; perhaps imitative of the spurting of a viscous liquid. Compare splooge, spoo (US slang), spooge, spaff.

Usage

Commonly used with 'of' to indicate the target of the imitation.

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