English Explanatory Dictionary

hokum

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. (An instance of) meaningless nonsense with an outward appearance of being impressive and legitimate.
  2. (An instance of) excessively contrived, hackneyed, or sentimental material in a film, television programme, theater production, etc.
  3. A film, television programme, theater production, etc., containing excessively contrived, hackneyed, or sentimental material.
  4. A genre of blues song or music, often characterized by sexual innuendos or satire.

Pronunciation

/ˈhəʊkəm/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-hokum.wav /ˈhoʊkəm/

Word forms

hokum hokums hocum

Etymology

Uncertain; first attested as US theater slang, possibly a blend of hocus-pocus + bunkum.

Synonyms

bunkum absurdity all my eye all my eye and Betty Martin applesauce bafflegab balderdash balls baloney banana oil Bandini baragouin batcrap batshit bilgewater blah blather blatherskite bobbins bollocks bosh BS bull bullcrap bulldust bull feathers bullshit bullspeak bunk bushwah clamjamfrey claptrap cobblers codswallop crap crock crock of shit double Dutch double talk doublespeak dribble drivel eyewash fiddle-faddle flapdoodle flim-flam flizz flummery folderol foolishness footle framis fuckery fuckry fudge galimatias Gallophone garbage garble gash

Derived words

hoke hokey
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