humbug
HUHM-buhg
Humbug (noun) means Nonsense, deception, or something meant to trick or mislead people. Example: “He dismissed the claims as pure humbug.”
noun
1
Nonsense, deception, or something meant to trick or mislead people.
"He dismissed the claims as pure humbug."
"Scrooge famously called Christmas "humbug.""
2
A hard, striped mint candy, especially popular in Britain.
"She offered him a humbug from the paper bag of sweets."
"Humbugs were his grandmother's favorite candy."
How to use humbug
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNonsense or a fraud — or, separately, a minty striped candy.
When to use it
Best known today through Scrooge's catchphrase "Bah, humbug!" in A Christmas Carol.
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Word forms
- Plural
- humbugs
- Third person singular
- humbugs
- Past tense
- humbugged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He dismissed the claims as pure _____.
Etymology
Origin unknown — the word appeared in English by the mid-1700s, and its exact source has never been traced with certainty.
Class of 1700
humbug joined the language around 1700.
See the full Class of 1700 →
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “humbug” mean?
The word “humbug” means nonsense, deception, or something meant to trick or mislead people. In plain terms, nonsense or a fraud — or, separately, a minty striped candy.
How do you pronounce “humbug”?
“Humbug” is pronounced HUHM-buhg (/ˈhəmˌbəɡ/ in IPA).
How do you use “humbug” in a sentence?
Here is “humbug” used in a sentence: “He dismissed the claims as pure humbug.”
What part of speech is “humbug”?
“Humbug” is a noun.
Where does the word “humbug” come from?
The word “humbug” dates back to around 1700. Origin unknown — the word appeared in English by the mid-1700s, and its exact source has never been traced with certainty.
How many meanings does “humbug” have?
“Humbug” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: nonsense, deception, or something meant to trick or mislead people.
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