cornball: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low frequencyInformal, often mildly derogatory
Quick answer
What does “cornball” mean?
A sweet confection made of popcorn held together with molasses or sugar syrup, similar to popcorn balls.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sweet confection made of popcorn held together with molasses or sugar syrup, similar to popcorn balls.
A person, style, or thing regarded as trite, old-fashioned, overly sentimental, or unsophisticated in a clichéd or laughable way.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The 'food' sense is almost exclusively American. The 'unsophisticated' sense is used in both but originated and is more common in American English.
Connotations
In AmE, it can be used with a degree of affectionate teasing. In BrE, if used, it's almost solely for the critical sense and may be perceived as an Americanism.
Frequency
Much more frequent and established in American English; rare in British English.
Grammar
How to Use “cornball” in a Sentence
be + cornballconsider + NP + a cornballfind + NP + cornballVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cornball” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The film's finale was just a bit too cornball for my taste.
- He has a collection of cornball novelty ties.
American English
- That commercial is so cornball it's funny.
- She loves those cornball romantic comedies from the 1950s.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Used informally to critique movies, humour, or people's style as overly sentimental or clichéd.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cornball”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cornball”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cornball”
- Confusing it with 'corny' (which is more common and similar in meaning). Using it in formal contexts. Overusing it in BrE where it is not idiomatic.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Corny' is more common and general, meaning trite, banal, or mawkishly old-fashioned. 'Cornball' is more specific as a noun for a person or thing embodying those qualities, and as an adjective it can feel slightly more emphatic or vivid.
Not always. It can be used affectionately among friends or to describe something enjoyed ironically for its lack of sophistication. However, its core meaning is derogatory.
Extremely rarely. The food is not a traditional British confection, so the term would be unfamiliar. A British speaker would likely say 'popcorn ball' or simply not recognise it.
It is most commonly used as a noun ('He's a cornball') or an adjective ('cornball humour'). Use as a verb or adverb is virtually non-existent.
A sweet confection made of popcorn held together with molasses or sugar syrup, similar to popcorn balls.
Cornball is usually informal, often mildly derogatory in register.
Cornball: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːn.bɔːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːrn.bɑːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone at a fair eating a sticky, old-fashioned popcorn ball (cornball) while wearing out-of-style clothes—both the snack and the person are 'cornballs'.
Conceptual Metaphor
LACK OF SOPHISTICATION IS OLD-FASHIONED FOOD / SIMPLICITY IS UNSOPHISTICATED.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'cornball' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?