hokum

Meaning

1. (informal) (An instance of) meaningless nonsense with an outward appearance of being impressive and legitimate.
2. (informal) (An instance of) excessively contrived, hackneyed, or sentimental material in a film, television programme, theater production, etc.
3. (informal) 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.

Synonyms

nonsense

nonsensicality

bunk

meaninglessness

cheating

claptrap

codswallop

debris

drivel

drool

humbug

imposture

litter

quackery

rot

rubbish

schlock

sleaze

stuff

trash

trickery

waste

dishonest action

balderdash

underhand action

bull

buncombe

bunkum

Hyphenated as

ho‧kum

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈhəʊkəm/

Etymology

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