Advertisement
Advertisement
MacGuffin
or Mc·Guf·fin
[ muh-guhf-in ]
noun
- a plot device in a work of fiction, often a physical object, that drives the plot forward without factoring into the story’s resolution:
The statue in The Maltese Falcon is the most well-known example of a MacGuffin in cinema.
Discover More
Word History and Origins
Origin of MacGuffin1
First recorded in 1935–40; probably from the surname MacGuffin and popularized by Alfred Hitchcock
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse