What does "bunkum" mean?
Senseless talk; nonsense; a piece of nonsense.
Bunkum
/ˈbʌŋkəm/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Senseless talk; nonsense; a piece of nonsense.
- Grammar: bunkum is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: adulation, applesauce, balderdash, balls.
- Useful contrasts: evidence based debate, fact, substance.
- Usage evidence: […] the manifold and serpentine wiles and evasions, shufflings and fencings, deceits and dissimulations, he had practised —the bunkums and the quackeries, […]
How to use "bunkum"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "bunkum" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "bunkum" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "bunkum" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "adulation" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Senseless talk; nonsense; a piece of nonsense. countable, dated, slang
"[…] the manifold and serpentine wiles and evasions, shufflings and fencings, deceits and dissimulations, he had practised —the bunkums and the quackeries, […]"
- 2 unacceptable behavior (especially ludicrously false statements) wordnet
- 3 Bombastic political posturing or oratorical display designed only for show or public applause. countable, dated, uncountable
Example
"[…] the manifold and serpentine wiles and evasions, shufflings and fencings, deceits and dissimulations, he had practised —the bunkums and the quackeries, […]"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "bunkum"?
Common synonyms include: adulation, applesauce, balderdash, balls, baloney, baloney.
How do you use "bunkum" in a sentence?
[…] the manifold and serpentine wiles and evasions, shufflings and fencings, deceits and dissimulations, he had practised —the bunkums and the quackeries, […]
How do you pronounce "bunkum"?
Pronounced /ˈbʌŋkəm/.
Etymology
From buncombe, from “speaking to (or for) Buncombe County, North Carolina”, a county in North Carolina named for Edward Buncombe. In 1820, Felix Walker, who represented the county in the U.S. House of Representatives, rose to address the question of admitting Missouri as a free or slave state, his first attempt to speak on the subject after nearly a month of solid debate, right before the vote was to be called. To the exasperation of colleagues, he began a long and wearisome speech, explaining that he was speaking not to Congress but "to Buncombe." He was ultimately shouted down by his colleagues, though his speech was published in a Washington paper and his persistence made "buncombe" (later respelled "bunkum") a synonym for meaningless political claptrap and later for any kind of nonsense, at first only in the jargon of Washington and then in common usage.