naff

[ naf ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

unstylish; lacking taste; inferior.

verb (used without object)

to goof off; fool around (often followed by around or about ).

verb phrase

go away: used as an exclamation of impatience.

naff

/ næf /

adjective

slang.
inferior; in poor taste

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Derived Forms

ˈnaffness, noun

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Other Words From

naffness noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of naff¹

First recorded in 1955–60, for an earlier sense; perhaps via Polari from Italian, for the adjective; perhaps a corruption of either eff ( def ) or fanny ( def ), for the verb

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Word History and Origins

Origin of naff¹

C19: perhaps back slang for fan, short for fanny

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Example Sentences

I realize it sounds so naff as I’m saying it to you, but they had people in tears.

From Time

naevus naff off

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