Naff

/næf/
adjective

Something tasteless, low quality or uncool.

That shirt you're wearing is really naff.
Visual representation of "naff" - Something tasteless, low quality or uncool

Often appears as...

  • naff off
  • naff all

Usage tips

Informal, Disapproving

Colloquial

verb

To go away or to tell someone to go away.

Why don't you just naff off and leave me alone?
Visual representation of "naff" - To go away or to tell someone to go away

Often appears as...

  • naff off
  • naff around

Usage tips

Informal, Disapproving

Colloquial

adjective

Something tasteless, low quality or uncool.

That shirt you're wearing is really naff.
Visual representation of "naff" - Something tasteless, low quality or uncool

Often appears as...

  • naff off
  • naff all

Usage tips

Informal, Disapproving

Colloquial

verb

To go away or to tell someone to go away.

Why don't you just naff off and leave me alone?
Visual representation of "naff" - To go away or to tell someone to go away

Often appears as...

  • naff off
  • naff around

Usage tips

Informal, Disapproving

Colloquial

Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "naff"
LampPro Tip 1/3

Offensive Potential

Be careful, calling something 'naff' can offend someone if it's about a personal choice.

Illustration for Offensive Potential
I didn't mean to upset her by calling her hat naff.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Not for Formal Use

'Naff' is casual and may seem disrespectful or unprofessional in formal or serious situations.

Illustration for Not for Formal Use
In the meeting, he regretted referring to the proposal as naff.
LampPro Tip 3/3

British Pop Culture

'Naff' is often used in British pop culture and may not be well understood by those unfamiliar with UK media.

Illustration for British Pop Culture
The comedian's joke about naff TV shows was lost on the foreign audience.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Offensive Potential

Be careful, calling something 'naff' can offend someone if it's about a personal choice.

Illustration for Offensive Potential
I didn't mean to upset her by calling her hat naff.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Not for Formal Use

'Naff' is casual and may seem disrespectful or unprofessional in formal or serious situations.

Illustration for Not for Formal Use
In the meeting, he regretted referring to the proposal as naff.
LampPro Tip 3/3

British Pop Culture

'Naff' is often used in British pop culture and may not be well understood by those unfamiliar with UK media.

Illustration for British Pop Culture
The comedian's joke about naff TV shows was lost on the foreign audience.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Offensive Potential

Be careful, calling something 'naff' can offend someone if it's about a personal choice.

Illustration for Offensive Potential
I didn't mean to upset her by calling her hat naff.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Not for Formal Use

'Naff' is casual and may seem disrespectful or unprofessional in formal or serious situations.

Illustration for Not for Formal Use
In the meeting, he regretted referring to the proposal as naff.
LampPro Tip 3/3

British Pop Culture

'Naff' is often used in British pop culture and may not be well understood by those unfamiliar with UK media.

Illustration for British Pop Culture
The comedian's joke about naff TV shows was lost on the foreign audience.
Visual representation of the word "Naff"

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Video examples

Safari Live - Day 230 PIPE...

I'm say five K's or maybe six KS at the most kilometers so to naff three miles maybe but I'm not sure exactly we don't get the opportunity to go that far north so we're not sure but we heard about it we were very excited I saw a little bit

Video examples

Safari Live - Day 230 PIPE...

I'm say five K's or maybe six KS at the most kilometers so to naff three miles maybe but I'm not sure exactly we don't get the opportunity to go that far north so we're not sure but we heard about it we were very excited I saw a little bit

Example 1 of 1

Quote examples

Toby Stephens

English Actor

Screen is satisfying because it's so technical and mysterious. It's like playing roulette: you get a script, you think it's either great or naff, but you have no idea how it will really turn out. On stage, you are your own editor - and you get brief moments of grace, where suddenly you feel free.
Portrait of Toby Stephens

Quote examples

Benedict Cumberbatch

English Actor

If people ask, 'Are you Sherlock Holmes?', it's horribly naff, but I say, 'I'm not, I just look a bit like him' - which is how I feel. There are bad attributes of his that I really don't share!
Portrait of Benedict Cumberbatch

Quote examples

Derren Brown

English Entertainer

I never quite know how to describe what I do. I normally just say, 'Oh, I'm a magician', which probably puts fairly naff ideas in people's minds but is pleasantly conversation-stopping.
Portrait of Derren Brown

Quote examples

Jamie Hince

English Musician

Did groupies ever interest me? No. I'm a pleasure seeker, and I like going bananas, but that's never appealed to me. I always thought it was a little bit naff.
Portrait of Jamie Hince

Quote examples

Lisa Stansfield

English Musician

One of the only things I've regretted was saying yes to a TV special, 'Motown Mania,' and I said I'll sing you a Diana Ross song. It was just naff.
Portrait of Lisa Stansfield

Quote examples

Mary Beard

It's a bit naff, but there is something exciting about pulling a bit of pottery out of the ground that's 2,000 years old.
Portrait of Mary Beard

Quote examples

Olly Murs

English Musician

It's such a hard thing to write a song for your fans without sounding naff and thanking them for spending money on you.
Portrait of Olly Murs

Quote examples

Jenny Eclair

Comedian

I don't do marriage. I think it's incredibly naff. And I don't like vulgar displays of ostentation.
Portrait of Jenny Eclair

Quote examples

Konnie Huq

British Celebrity

I like interiors as much as exteriors but 'interior designer' just sounds naff as a job.
Portrait of Konnie Huq

Quote examples

Craig Revel Horwood

Australian Dancer

I like stuff like Joy Division and Verdi, and then some naff stuff.
Portrait of Craig Revel Horwood

Quote examples

Toby Stephens

English Actor

Screen is satisfying because it's so technical and mysterious. It's like playing roulette: you get a script, you think it's either great or naff, but you have no idea how it will really turn out. On stage, you are your own editor - and you get brief moments of grace, where suddenly you feel free.
Portrait of Toby Stephens

Quote examples

Benedict Cumberbatch

English Actor

If people ask, 'Are you Sherlock Holmes?', it's horribly naff, but I say, 'I'm not, I just look a bit like him' - which is how I feel. There are bad attributes of his that I really don't share!
Portrait of Benedict Cumberbatch

Quote examples

Derren Brown

English Entertainer

I never quite know how to describe what I do. I normally just say, 'Oh, I'm a magician', which probably puts fairly naff ideas in people's minds but is pleasantly conversation-stopping.
Portrait of Derren Brown

Quote examples

Jamie Hince

English Musician

Did groupies ever interest me? No. I'm a pleasure seeker, and I like going bananas, but that's never appealed to me. I always thought it was a little bit naff.
Portrait of Jamie Hince

Quote examples

Lisa Stansfield

English Musician

One of the only things I've regretted was saying yes to a TV special, 'Motown Mania,' and I said I'll sing you a Diana Ross song. It was just naff.
Portrait of Lisa Stansfield

Quote examples

Mary Beard

It's a bit naff, but there is something exciting about pulling a bit of pottery out of the ground that's 2,000 years old.
Portrait of Mary Beard

Quote examples

Olly Murs

English Musician

It's such a hard thing to write a song for your fans without sounding naff and thanking them for spending money on you.
Portrait of Olly Murs

Quote examples

Jenny Eclair

Comedian

I don't do marriage. I think it's incredibly naff. And I don't like vulgar displays of ostentation.
Portrait of Jenny Eclair

Quote examples

Konnie Huq

British Celebrity

I like interiors as much as exteriors but 'interior designer' just sounds naff as a job.
Portrait of Konnie Huq

Quote examples

Craig Revel Horwood

Australian Dancer

I like stuff like Joy Division and Verdi, and then some naff stuff.
Portrait of Craig Revel Horwood
Example 1 of 10
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