Hoax

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Hoax

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun and verb

Pronunciation

hohks  /həʊks/

Definition

As a noun: a deliberately fabricated deception intended to trick people into believing something false; a practical joke or trick, especially one designed to make people look foolish or cause alarm; a fraud presented as real. As a verb: to deceive or trick someone with a hoax.

Plain meaning

A hoax is a deliberate deception — a false claim, fake event, or fabricated story presented as true, designed to fool people. Famous examples include fake ghost sightings, fraudulent scientific discoveries, and fabricated news stories. To hoax someone is to deliberately trick them this way.

Register

Informal to neutral. Hoax is used in journalism, law enforcement, and everyday speech. It implies deliberate deception and carries more disapproval than prank — a prank is harmless fun; a hoax may waste resources, cause alarm, or undermine trust. Some hoaxes carry criminal penalties when they divert emergency services or cause public harm.