1. pretending to have knowledge, strength, or confidence that one does not actually possess in order to deceive or intimidate
Usage: present participle of ‘bluff’
2. making a bet in poker with a weak hand to deceive opponents about the strength of one’s cards
Usage: poker terminology

1. the act of pretending to have knowledge, strength, or confidence that one does not possess
Usage: gerund form

Examples

• He was bluffing about knowing the answer to the difficult question.
• She’s just bluffing to make herself seem more confident than she really is.
• The poker player was bluffing with a pair of twos.
• His bluffing didn’t work because everyone could see through his act.
• Stop bluffing and tell us what you really think.
• The negotiator was bluffing about having other offers.
• Her bluffing strategy backfired when they called her on it.