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.
"That's a bunch of baloney! I don't believe one word!"
"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 notesIn plain EnglishEither the sausage, or (informally) rubbish, exaggeration, or lies.
When to use it
Informal, mostly American English.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- baloneys
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.
Class of 1900
baloney joined the language around 1900.
See the full Class of 1900 →
Synonyms
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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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