What does "hokum" mean?
(An instance of) meaningless nonsense with an outward appearance of being impressive and legitimate.
Hokum
/ˈhəʊkəm/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: (An instance of) meaningless nonsense with an outward appearance of being impressive and legitimate.
- Grammar: hokum is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: bunk, nonsense, acting, balls.
- Useful contrasts: accuracy, authenticity, genuineness.
- Usage evidence: Every one of us who ridiculed his business plan as a bunch of hokum should be embarrassed we did.
How to use "hokum"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "hokum" 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 "hokum" 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 "hokum" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "hokum" 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 "hokum" 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 "bunk" 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.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "hokum", 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 (An instance of) meaningless nonsense with an outward appearance of being impressive and legitimate. countable, informal, uncountable, usually
"Recently that publication [Collier's Weekly] has been filling its readers with the good old hokum about red likker and its steady disappearance, and if what has been offered be but half true, beer, light wine and all of the other beverages which have been tabooed by law, are on their way to that place where nothing returns."
- 2 a message that seems to convey no meaning wordnet
- 3 (An instance of) excessively contrived, hackneyed, or sentimental material in a film, television programme, theater production, etc. countable, informal, uncountable, usually
"The majority of the twenty-six stunts described in this volume belong to a species of so-called hokum acts derived from the professional stage and handed down through several generations of actors."
- 4 A film, television programme, theater production, etc., containing excessively contrived, hackneyed, or sentimental material. countable, informal, usually
"[H]e [Stanley Baker] was still churning out the kind of Boy's Own hokums and dreary international espionage thrillers that defined that bygone era."
- 5 A genre of blues song or music, often characterized by sexual innuendos or satire. uncountable, usually
"[D]uring the 'twenties, jazz developed from an infrequent ‘hokum’ music in a few vaudeville acts to a household commodity."
Example
"Every one of us who ridiculed his business plan as a bunch of hokum should be embarrassed we did."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "hokum"?
Common synonyms include: bunk, nonsense, acting, balls, baloney, bilge.
How do you use "hokum" in a sentence?
Every one of us who ridiculed his business plan as a bunch of hokum should be embarrassed we did.
How do you pronounce "hokum"?
Pronounced /ˈhəʊkəm/.
Etymology
Uncertain; first attested as US theater slang, possibly a blend of hocus-pocus + bunkum.