Jeff

American

[jef] / dʒɛf /

noun

a male given name, form of Jeffrey.

jeff British

/ dʒɛf /

verb

to downsize or close down (an organization)
to reduce (staff numbers) or dismiss (an employee)
to spoil or destroy ruthlessly

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of jeff

C20: named after Jeff Kennett, former premier of the state of Victoria, Australia

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Homeownership has become a ’til-death-do-us-part scenario” in California, said Jeff Fishman, a Los Angeles financial adviser.

From The Wall Street Journal

Jeff Goldblum was a surprise addition at the Brits - he told the BBC his fifth album is coming out soon with his jazz band The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra and that he can't wait to tour it round the UK.

From BBC

As for sending that hospital ship to Greenland, Jeff Landry still wants to make that happen.

From Salon

“We accomplished two goals, winning league and City,” said second-year coach Jeff Bryant.

From Los Angeles Times

Jeff Bezos moved from Seattle to Miami, assembling a $200 million plus compound.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023