smof

S1M3O1F4
UK/smɒf/US/smɔf/US/smɑf/

verb

To discuss fandom; to organise or direct fandom; to act in the manner of a SMOF.

Scrabble 9

Meanings

smof1

nounsmof (plural smofs)

plural smofs

  1. alternativeAlternative form of SMOF.
verbsmof (third-person singular simple present smofs, present participle smoffing, simple past and past participle smoffed)

present singular third person smofs · participle present smoffing · participle past smoffed · past smoffed

  1. slanglifestyleTo discuss fandom; to organise or direct fandom; to act in the manner of a SMOF.

    Smoffing is a Way of Life.

    1968 November, The Proper Boskonian
    2 more examples

    the fen of science fiction fandom for whom fiawol descended on Boston this weekend for their annual worldcon to smof and to buy old fanzines.

    1971 September 6, New York Times, page 17

    Then there's the semantic argument of smofdom. Ailsa, by discussing the nature of fandom, is smoffing. By smoffing, she risks becoming a smof. In fact, the more she discusses the nature of fandom, and who is or isn't a smof, the more likely she is to become one.

    1998 October 21, Doug Wickstrom, “Re: Do Fans Beget Fans?”, in rec.arts.sf.fandom (Usenet), message-ID <363a2926.8124211@netnews.worldnet.att.net>

SMOF2

nounSMOF (plural SMOFs)

plural SMOFs · alternative smof

  1. slanglifestyleOne influential in science fiction fandom; one who organises a convention, publishes a fanzine or performs a similar activity.

    I know a lot of briefcase-carrying SMOF types that live to run cons.

    1993 November 6, Jim Rittenhouse, “Re: Will some REAL fans please move to Chicago?”, in alt.fandom.cons (Usenet), message-ID <2bh88t$1ip@genesis.MCS.COM>
    4 more examples

    He is also, in case he is willing... no, not in case he is willing; anyway, whether he likes it or not... an Honorary Member of SMOF.

    1963, Hal Clement, Proceedings of Discon, page 162

    Secret Masters of Fandom (SMOFs), people who consider themselves to be the real ‘rulers’ of fandom, making decisions by running fan politics. Actually, these poor fellows are suffering from delusions of grandeur. (Also, verb form: to smof.)

    1978, Arthur Wilson "Bob" Tucker, The Neo-Fan's Guide to Science Fiction Fandom, page 10

    Mary Manchester deserves special mention at this point. She appeared in few publications, yet she had such an influence on Star Trek fanzines that many considered her a SMOF, or Secret Master of Fandom.

    2003, J. M. Verba, Boldly Writing, page 27

    Cabal Sometimes assumed to be a secretive organization responsible for the development of Wikipedia [...] The term is comparable to the use of the term SMOF in science fiction fandom.

    2014, Dariusz Jemielniak, “Appendix B: Glossary of Wikipedia Slang”, in Common Knowledge?, →ISBN, page 205

Origin

smof · noun, verb

From SMOF (“Secret Master of Fandom”).

Full word history & related roots →

SMOF · noun

Abbreviation of Secret Master Of Fandom. Coined by American science fiction author Jack Chalker.

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with smof

All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

smof. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/smof

MLA

“smof.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/smof. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “smof,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/smof.

Source: smof on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.