What does ziff mean?
Ziff is an informal English word best known for two noun meanings: a lucky break or favorable opportunity, and a zero or nothing at all. The first meaning is often playful, as when someone says that an unexpected break was a ziff. The second appears in contexts such as schoolwork, where receiving a ziff means earning no marks. Ziff can also be used as a verb, particularly in British informal usage, to mean that a score, rating, or assessment has been reduced to zero. Although the two noun senses appear quite different, slang often develops contrasting meanings from the same word. Ziff is chiefly conversational and is not normally used in formal writing. Its unusual sound and its ability to mean both complete failure and good fortune make it especially memorable in casual speech.
Informally, a lucky break or favorable opportunity; also, a zero or nothing at all.
"Getting the job after months of applying was an enormous ziff."
The word is informal and usually disambiguated by context.
Informally and transitively, to reduce a score, rating, or assessment to zero.
"The grader ziffed the contestant after the final round."
This use is less common than the noun and is especially associated with British informal English.
The plural ziffs is used for multiple lucky breaks or zero scores.
"The team celebrated after earning two ziffs on the same afternoon."
“Ziff” can mean both a score of zero and the lucky break that changes the game.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ziff
Ziff emerged in English slang during the mid-20th century. Its precise origin is uncertain, although it is commonly connected with zif, an informal shortening of zero. The numerical sense is therefore generally understood, while the development of the unrelated-sounding meaning “a lucky break” reflects the wordplay characteristic of colloquial vocabulary.
Related word forms
How ziff is actually used
This is slang and informal vocabulary, more characteristic of speech than formal writing. Context distinguishes its two noun meanings, while the verb is less common.