Humbug Definition

hŭmbŭg
humbugged, humbugging, humbugs
noun
humbugs
Something made or done to cheat or deceive; fraud; sham; hoax.
Webster's New World
A person who is not what he or she claims to be; impostor.
Webster's New World
Misleading, dishonest, or empty talk; nonsense.
Webster's New World
A spirit of trickery, deception, etc.
Webster's New World
A striped hard candy.
Webster's New World
interjection
Used to express disbelief or disgust.
American Heritage
Nonsense.
Webster's New World
verb
humbugged, humbugging, humbugs
To dupe; deceive.
Webster's New World
To practice deception or trickery.
American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Humbug

Noun

Singular:
humbug
Plural:
humbugs

Origin of Humbug

  • First in use about 1735-40, from hum (“(dialectal and slang) to delude, impose on, cajole”) + bug (“a specter, goblin”)

    From Wiktionary

  • Origin unknown

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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