Guff is a casualinformal and relaxed, not serious or official noun for foolishlacking good sense; silly or unwise or untrue talk, especially statements that sound silly or obviously false. It is often used to dismissreject or ignore as unimportant or not worth believing what someone has said as nonsense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ɡʌf/
Easy pronunciation: GUFF (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable, with the vowel stressed.
Noun meaning foolish or obviously false talk; nonsense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Guff Meaning
talk that is silly, untrue, or not worth believing
Part of speech: noun
Definition: foolish or obviously false talk; nonsense
Example: Don’t give me that guff about being too busy to help.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- buncombe — A strong match for insincere or empty talk, though more formal and less common than guff.
- bunk — A close everyday substitute meaning nonsense or rubbish.
- bunkum — Means empty or nonsense talk; slightly old-fashioned.
- hogwash — A direct synonym for nonsense or nonsense claims.
- rot — Used to dismiss something as nonsense or nonsense talk, especially in British English.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Guff Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- bunk
- hogwash
- rot
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using guff for ordinary conversation in general. It specifically suggests nonsense, falsehood, or silly talk.
- Mixing up guff with gaffe. A gaffe is a social blunder, not nonsense talk.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does guff mean?
Guff means silly, false, or worthless talk. People often use it to dismiss what someone has said as nonsense.
Is guff formal or informal?
It is informal and a little blunt. You would use it in casual speech or writing, not in formal contexts.
What are the best synonyms for guff?
Good synonyms include bunk, hogwash, rot, and bunkum, depending on the tone and variety of English.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-11-01. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
