hoax

Etymology

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

verb

  1. (transitive) To deceive (someone) by making them believe something that has been maliciously or mischievously fabricated.

noun

  1. Anything deliberately intended to deceive or trick.
    The phone call to the police about a tiger in a tree turned out to be a hoax.
    The news story about the pop singer coming to town, unfortunately for his fans, turned out to be a hoax.

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