What does "cockamamie" mean?
A decal, a design that can be transferred to a surface.
Cockamamie
/ˌkɒk.əˈmeɪ.mi/ adj, noun, slang
adj, noun, slang ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A decal, a design that can be transferred to a surface.
- Grammar: cockamamie is listed as adj, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: absurd, absurd, beyond belief, bizarre.
- Useful contrasts: academic, credible, formal.
- Usage evidence: He told the boss some cockamamie story about being sick and needing days off from work.
How to use "cockamamie"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "cockamamie" 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 "cockamamie" 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
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "cockamamie" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "cockamamie" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "cockamamie" is acting as adj, 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 "absurd" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "cockamamie", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
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 A decal, a design that can be transferred to a surface. US, countable, dated, uncountable
"“If it wuz a nickel,” said one broody voice between the gratings, “I could buy fuh two cends cockamamies an’ pud em on mine hull arm. An’ den fuh t’ree cends I’ll go to duh movies.” “Yuh c’n buy fuh t’ree cends cockamamies.” Izzy crisply revised the dream."
- 2 A foolish or ridiculous person. countable, uncountable
"“What’s going down here, you cockamamies, we’re releasing two pictures this week about goddamn rich guys who get involved with their goddamn black tenants? What is this, an April Fool’s memo?”"
- 3 Ridiculousness; folly; foolish nonsense. countable, uncountable
"Most of his ideas were pure cockamamie. One of them, however, was a real beaut."
Adjective
- 1 Foolish, ill-considered, silly, unbelievable. informal
"Do not give any more cockamamie reasons for failing to complete your assignment."
- 2 Trifling.
Adjective
- 1 informal term for ridiculous and implausible wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"He told the boss some cockamamie story about being sick and needing days off from work."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "cockamamie"?
Common synonyms include: absurd, absurd, beyond belief, bizarre, cockamamy, colloquial.
How do you use "cockamamie" in a sentence?
He told the boss some cockamamie story about being sick and needing days off from work.
How do you pronounce "cockamamie"?
Pronounced /ˌkɒk.əˈmeɪ.mi/.
Etymology
Possible corruption of French décalcomanie (“process of transferring designs onto surfaces using decals”); sometimes erroneously claimed to derive from Yiddish.