What does guffaw mean?
Guffaw is a word for a laugh that is louder, more boisterous, and more conspicuous than an ordinary chuckle. As a noun, it names the laugh itself: a sudden or hearty guffaw can fill a room or interrupt a conversation. As a verb, it describes the act of laughing in this emphatic way. The word often conveys physical force and uninhibited amusement, although context determines whether the laughter is friendly, surprised, or mocking. It is informal in tone but widely understood in British and American English. Guffaw is especially useful when a writer wants to make a moment of laughter vivid, dramatic, or slightly theatrical. It can also carry a faintly critical edge, since describing someone’s laughter as a guffaw may suggest that it is loud, crude, or socially inappropriate.
A loud, boisterous, often sudden or hearty laugh.
"The storyteller's final sentence drew a loud guffaw from the crowd."
Informal; often used to emphasize the force or conspicuousness of a laugh.
To laugh loudly or without restraint.
"They guffawed at the absurdity of the situation."
Informal; can suggest hearty amusement, surprise, mockery, or an exaggerated reaction depending on context.
The regular plural of the noun is guffaws.
"Her jokes provoked guffaws throughout the lecture hall."
Guffaw compresses a whole performance of hilarity into two syllables: the laugh is loud, sudden, and hard to ignore.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does guffaw come from?
The precise origin of guffaw is uncertain. The word appears to be an expressive formation, imitating or suggesting the sound of a loud, unrestrained laugh rather than deriving clearly from an established root. It has long been established in English, but its secure historical cognates and exact development cannot be stated with confidence.
Related word forms
How guffaw is actually used
Guffaw is informal and strongly suggests a conspicuous, energetic laugh. It can describe genuinely amused laughter, but it may also imply surprise, mockery, or disrespect depending on context.