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noun

baloney

buh-LOH-nee

Baloney (noun) means Nonsense; foolish or dishonest talk. Example: “Don't give me that baloney about traffic — you were late again.”

noun
1
Nonsense; foolish or dishonest talk.
"Don't give me that baloney about traffic — you were late again."
2
A type of processed sausage (bologna).
"He made a baloney sandwich for lunch."

How to use baloney

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the sausage, or (informally) rubbish, exaggeration, or lies.

When to use it

Informal, mostly American English.

Easily confused with

Word forms

baloneys plural, Baloneys plural

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Test yourself on “baloney” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Don't give me that _____ about traffic — you were late again.

Etymology

A playful respelling of "bologna," the Italian sausage; the "nonsense" meaning grew from American slang in the early 20th century.

Origin: Italian · First attested 1900

Class of 1900 baloney joined the language around 1900.
See the full Class of 1900 →
bosh tosh drool humbug boloney twaddle tommyrot bilgewater taradiddle tarradiddle

Related words

Rhymes for baloney

See all rhymes for baloney →

Frequently asked questions

What does “baloney” mean?

The word “baloney” means nonsense; foolish or dishonest talk. In plain terms, either the sausage, or (informally) rubbish, exaggeration, or lies.

How do you pronounce “baloney”?

“Baloney” is pronounced buh-LOH-nee (/bəˈloʊni/ in IPA).

How do you use “baloney” in a sentence?

Here is “baloney” used in a sentence: “Don't give me that baloney about traffic — you were late again.”

What part of speech is “baloney”?

“Baloney” is a noun.

Where does the word “baloney” come from?

The word “baloney” dates back to around 1900 and comes from Italian. A playful respelling of "bologna," the Italian sausage; the "nonsense" meaning grew from American slang in the early 20th century.

How many meanings does “baloney” have?

“Baloney” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: nonsense; foolish or dishonest talk.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial