Goofy
/ˈɡuːfi/noun
Silly, awkward, or lacking seriousness.
Did you know?The word is thought to come from earlier dialectal English forms like goof, meaning a foolish or clumsy person, and it became a playful label long before Disney made it iconic.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
English
goof
“A foolish, clumsy, or awkward person.”
Early 20th Century
English
goofy
“Silly, foolish, or awkward; acting like a goof.”
Modern English
English
goofy
“Playfully silly or eccentric.”
Modern English
English
Goofy
“The name of Disney’s cartoon character, reinforcing the word’s comic, bumbling feel.”
Explore more surprising origins