pass off

verb

passed off; passing off; passes off
Synonyms of pass offnext

transitive verb

1
: to make public or offer for sale with intent to deceive
2
: to give a false identity or character to

Synonyms of pass off

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Examples of pass off in a Sentence

the con man tried to pass off a piece of blue glass as a sapphire
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Rick later discovers that Danny is trying to pass off the song as his own. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 5 June 2026 Adam Gordon, the book’s protagonist, is always passing off someone else’s language as his own. — Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026 Sure enough, a member of the security team snagged the jersey, and it was passed off to a man who admired the jersey sitting in the ride behind Leo. — CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026 After Simmons-Hancock was dead, Parker performed a crude C-section on her body to remove the unborn child to pass off as her own. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for pass off

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pass off was in 1681

Rhymes for pass off

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Browse Nearby Words

pass muster
pass off
passometer
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Cite this Entry

“Pass off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pass%20off. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pass off

verb
: to give a false identity to : describe untruthfully

Legal Definition

pass off

transitive verb
1
: to make public or offer for sale (goods or services) with intent to deceive : palm off
passing his product off as that of the plaintiff's—W. L. Prosser and W. P. Keeton
see also unfair competition
2
: to give a false identity or character to
they created the documents on the day of the trial and passed them off as being made earlier

More from Merriam-Webster on pass off

Nglish: Translation of pass off for Spanish Speakers

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