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Added 8 October 2026

hoax

/həʊks/ noun

Latin root: iocus Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about hoax at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Something intended to deceive; deliberate trickery intended to gain an advantage.

verb

Subject to a playful hoax or joke.

Origin

Reportedly a form of hocus. Possibly from hocus-pocus or Latin iocus (“joke”). Compare hokey.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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