Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun An unauthorized copy or imitation, as of designer clothing.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A cheap imitation of something popular, produced illegally without a license from the trademark owner, and of inferior materials.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An imitation of something, particularly a well-known product, usually lower in quality and price than the original.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun an unauthorized copy or imitation

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

knock +‎ off

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word knockoff.

Examples

  • Instead, all we know that a thinly-developed Superman knockoff is missing.

    Superhero Nation: how to write superhero novels and comic books » Maybe SIWBI’s heroes weren’t that bad 2008

  • Making Hitchcockian thrillers has always been a strong point, however to brand De Palma a Hitchcock knockoff is grossly unfair.

    Top 10 Voyeuristic Films » Scene-Stealers 2008

  • The Bootleg Action Figure site features page after page after page of photos of crummy bootleg action figures -- this Batman knockoff is adorable.

    Boing Boing: June 26, 2005 - July 2, 2005 Archives 2005

  • And beginning later this year, "90210" will beget the ultimate knockoff, which is, of course, a spinoff.

    Sorry, Wrong Zip Code 2008

  • Today, you might wonder if Newsweek instead wants to be known as a knockoff of Us Weekly.

    MarketWatch.com - Top Stories 2011

  • Maybe it is because they are loaded with old movies and big name knockoff titles these days.

    digg.com: Top News 2011

  • Only hours after it was announced, these same online commentators came to a consensus on Gen. Chi's accolade: Much like China's renowned counterfeits of Western consumer products, this is a shanzhai, or "knockoff," peace prize.

    The Harmony Prize 2010

  • District Court in Northern California this year accusing nine retailers, manufacturers and suppliers of selling "knockoff" chairs in connection with reproductions of the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, Aluminum Group chair, and Soft Pad chair.

    In Design, Chair and Chair Alike Anjali Athavaley 2010

  • But even the obvious errors -- the "Fatal Attraction" knockoff "Fear," say -- have stiffened her resolve not to chase celebrity or play victims.

    Reese On Earth 2008

  • I think they will know what the story is when they read it, and no, it's not a "knockoff" of "The Ship Who Sang."

    November 2008 2008

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.