Etymologically
Log in

hoax

Etymology and origin of the English word hoax

History Permalink

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /həʊks/ (UK); /hoʊks/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is probably a contraction or alteration of hocus,[2][3][4][5][6] which meant a conjurer or juggler (1630s–1640) and then a cheat;[4][5] hocus is itself a shortening of hocus-pocus.[4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

As a verb, to deceive someone with an amusing or mischievous fabrication (1796).[7][4][3][5]

Semantic evolution

The noun followed in 1808, for a humorous or mischievous deception.[7][4][3][5] The word has broadened to any deliberate deception and to something established by fraud,[2][3][6] and has lost much of its early playful tone.[7][6]

Timeline

  • 1796 – verb, to deceive with a fabrication.[7][4][5]
  • 1808 – noun, a humorous or mischievous deception.[7][4][3]
  • 1869 – a person who is a fraud.[7]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. An act or trick meant to deceive.
  2. Something accepted or established by fraud.

Verb

  1. To deceive with a hoax.

Word family

  • hoaxer

Usage notes

Random House lists deception, fraud, fake, imposture and humbug as synonyms.[6]

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  3. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  5. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  6. ^ a b c d Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  7. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Hoax.” Etymologically, 15 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/hoax. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·