boffin

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boffin

/ˈbɒfɪn/ UK
/ˈbɑfɪn/ US

Rhymes with -ɒfɪn

Where it comes from

Origin unknown; a number of possible etymologies have been suggested, but no conclusive evidence exists.

One strong theory conjectures a connection from the "Mr. Boffins" of English novels, such as in Dickens' Our Mutual Friend.

noun boffins

Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, UK, informal An engineer or scientist, especially one engaged in technological or military research. In fact, a fighting friend of mine said that he could hardly walk in any direction in this war without tumbling over a scientist who had got in the way. In the Royal Air Force, where the concentration of scientists is perhaps greatest, they have a pet name for them. They call them “Boffins.” Why, I
Similar: backroom boy
Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, UK, broadly, informal A person with specialized knowledge or skills, especially one who is socially awkward. — Well, last year I used to have a friend Charley [Charley was in the top sets for English, mathematics and French] but this year he doesn't speak to me any more and every time I see him he's hanging around with boffins like. When I go round to his house, now and again, he's always got his 'O' level
Similar: brain, brainiac, egghead, boffin, bright spark, geek, nerd, Poindexter, poindexter, propeller head, shrewd article, smart cookie
Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, UK, broadly, informal an intellectual; a smart person.
Similar: brain, brainiac, egghead, boffin, bright spark, geek, nerd, Poindexter, poindexter, propeller head, shrewd article, smart cookie

Translations

Every language

noun (informal) person with specialized knowledge or skills

Español	especialista
Français	intello

noun (informal) engineer or scientist

Español	científico, cerebrito
日本語	科学者 kagakusha
中文	科學家 /科学家 kēxuéjiā
Italiano	scienziato
Русский	эруди́т erudít, учёный učónyj
Tiếng Việt	nhà nghiên cứu

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MLA

"boffin." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/boffin. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

boffin. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/boffin

Chicago

"boffin." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/boffin.

BibTeX

@misc{boffin_2026,
  title = {boffin},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/boffin},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}