# hoax

> English word · Verb · IPA /həʊks/ · frequency rank #14,339

## Definitions
1. To deceive (someone) by making them believe something that has been maliciously or mischievously fabricated.

## Etymology
Reportedly a form of hocus. Possibly from hocus-pocus or Latin iocus (“joke”).
Compare hokey.

## Easily confused with
- **how** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoax-vs-how)
- **hot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoax-vs-hot)
- **hop** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoax-vs-hop)
- **hon** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoax-vs-hon)
- **hog** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoax-vs-hog)
- **hoo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoax-vs-hoo)
- **hoe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoax-vs-hoe)
- **hua** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoax-vs-hua)
- **hof** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoax-vs-hof)
- **Hou** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoax-vs-hou)
- **hoy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoax-vs-hoy)
- **hos** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoax-vs-hos)
- **hoh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoax-vs-hoh)
- **hoi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoax-vs-hoi)
- **Hom** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoax-vs-hom)
- **HPA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoax-vs-hpa)
- **hob** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoax-vs-hob)
- **HSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoax-vs-hsa)
- **hor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoax-vs-hor)
- **HOV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hoax-vs-hov)

## Common misspellings (5)
`haox`, `hhoax`, `hoaxx`, `hoxa`, `ohax`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/hoax