adj
cockamamie
kok-uh-MAY-mee
Cockamamie (adj) means Ridiculous, implausible, or poorly thought out. Example: “He came up with some cockamamie excuse for being late.”
adj
1
Ridiculous, implausible, or poorly thought out.
"He came up with some cockamamie excuse for being late."
"It was a cockamamie scheme that never had a chance of working."
How to use cockamamie
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAbsurd or far-fetched, used informally about ideas, excuses, or plans.
When to use it
Informal, mostly American English.
Common pairings
a cockamamie idea
a cockamamie excuse
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Word forms
- Plural
- cockamamies
- Comparative
- more cockamamie
- Superlative
- most cockamamie
Fill the gap
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He came up with some _____ excuse for being late.
Etymology
Believed to be an American mangling of French décalcomanie, the process of transferring printed designs (decals) onto surfaces — the word drifted from "cheap novelty transfer" to "silly and unconvincing."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for cockamamie
See all rhymes for cockamamie →Frequently asked questions
What does “cockamamie” mean?
The word “cockamamie” means ridiculous, implausible, or poorly thought out. In plain terms, absurd or far-fetched, used informally about ideas, excuses, or plans.
How do you pronounce “cockamamie”?
“Cockamamie” is pronounced kok-uh-MAY-mee (/ˌkɑ.kəˈmeɪ.mi/ in IPA).
How do you use “cockamamie” in a sentence?
Here is “cockamamie” used in a sentence: “He came up with some cockamamie excuse for being late.”
What part of speech is “cockamamie”?
“Cockamamie” is an adjective.
Where does the word “cockamamie” come from?
The word “cockamamie” comes from French. Believed to be an American mangling of French décalcomanie, the process of transferring printed designs (decals) onto surfaces — the word drifted from "cheap novelty transfer" to "silly and unconvincing.".
