flummery: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal/Humorous
Quick answer
What does “flummery” mean?
Foolish or meaningless talk or ideas.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Foolish or meaningless talk or ideas; nonsense.
A sweet, soft dessert made from stewed fruit and oatmeal or cornstarch (now chiefly historical/regional).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The culinary sense is slightly more recognized in UK historical contexts (e.g., Welsh flummery). The 'nonsense' sense is used in both but remains rare.
Connotations
In both, implies pretentiousness or deceitful embellishment, not just simple silliness.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties. More likely encountered in literary or political commentary than everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “flummery” in a Sentence
[subject] dismissed it as flummery.[subject] is tired of the political flummery.It was pure flummery from start to finish.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flummery” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The politician tried to flummery the public with vague promises.
- He's just flummering again.
American English
- The CEO flummeried the investors with jargon-filled projections.
- Stop flummering and get to the point.
adverb
British English
- He spoke flummery, avoiding the real issue entirely.
- The proposal was flummery presented.
American English
- She argued flummery, her points having no basis in reality.
- The document was flummery written to obscure the truth.
adjective
British English
- He gave a flummery explanation that satisfied no one.
- It was a flummery speech, all style and no substance.
American English
- The report was full of flummery statistics designed to mislead.
- We need facts, not flummery arguments.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. 'The proposal was full of financial flummery, lacking concrete data.'
Academic
Rare, used in critique. 'The argument was dismissed as philosophical flummery.'
Everyday
Very rare. Might be used humorously. 'Don't give me that flummery; just tell me what happened.'
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flummery”
- Using it to mean 'flattery' (it's closer to 'deceptive nonsense').
- Spelling: 'flummory', 'flummery'.
- Assuming it is common modern slang.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word. It is most often found in formal writing, satire, or historical contexts.
Yes, though rare. To 'flummery' means to talk nonsense or to deceive with empty words (e.g., 'He flummeried his way through the interview').
It comes from Welsh 'llymru', a type of sour oatmeal porridge. The semantic shift from a plain food to 'empty talk' reflects a view of such talk as insubstantial or deceitfully dressed-up.
It is dismissive and critical, but not a personal insult. It targets the content of speech or ideas as being pretentious, deceitful, or worthless, not the person directly.
Foolish or meaningless talk or ideas.
Flummery is usually formal/humorous in register.
Flummery: in British English it is pronounced /ˈflʌməri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈflʌməri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “All flummery and no substance.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'fluffy' and 'mum' (as in 'mumble'). A 'fluffy mumble' is pleasant-sounding but meaningless talk = FLUMMERY.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMPTY SPEECH IS A WORTHLESS FOOD (from its culinary origin).
Practice
Quiz
In which of these contexts would 'flummery' be LEAST appropriate?