knockoff

1 of 2

noun

knock·​off ˈnäk-ˌȯf 

: a copy that sells for less than the original

broadly : a copy or imitation of someone or something popular

knock off

2 of 2

verb

knocked off; knocking off; knocks off

intransitive verb

: to stop doing something

transitive verb

1

: to do hurriedly or routinely

knocked off one painting after another

2

: discontinue, stop

knocked off work at five

3

: deduct

knocked off a little to make the price more attractive

4

a

: kill

knocked off two men … on mercenary grounds

—Lewis Baker

b

: overcome, defeat

knocked off each center of rebellion

5

: rob

knocked off a couple of banks

6

: to make a knockoff of : copy, imitate

knocks off popular dress designs

Synonyms

Verb

• break
• break off
• break up
• can [slang]
• cease
• cut off
• cut out
• desist (from)
• discontinue
• drop
• end
• give over
• halt
• lay off
• leave off
• pack (up or in)
• quit
• shut off
• stop

Examples of knockoff in a Sentence

Noun

That purse is a knockoff.

Verb

decided it was time to knock off telling fantastic fibs about her family background

a proposal to knock 10 cents off the gasoline tax

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Disused lawn chairs, fishing nets, and air mattresses made their way through him to Hong Kong importers, who turned them into, for example, trimmings for knockoff purses. —Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025

They could be found on everyone from uptown moms to downtown DJs, and these days many a knockoff live on. —Zachary Weiss, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2025

Verb

Tennessee is coming off a win after knocking off Vanderbilt 81-76 behind 22 points and eight assists from guard Zakai Zeigler. —Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025

Ohio State and Notre Dame each won three playoff games before the Buckeyes knocked off the Fighting Irish in the title game. —Brett Martel, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1966, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1649, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for knockoff

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

knock off

verb

: to stop doing something