gammon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal (food); Informal (British slang); Technical (backgammon).
Quick answer
What does “gammon” mean?
A type of cured or smoked ham from a pig's hind leg, traditionally cured like bacon.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of cured or smoked ham from a pig's hind leg, traditionally cured like bacon.
In British informal use, a deceptive trick or misleading talk, often in the phrase 'Don't talk gammon!'; also the position in backgammon when a player wins before their opponent removes any pieces.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
'Gammon' as a meat is common in UK food terminology, less so in the US. The informal sense meaning 'nonsense' or the verb 'to gammon' (to deceive) is exclusively British, now largely archaic or dialectal. The US usage is almost exclusively culinary or related to the game backgammon.
Connotations
UK: For food, traditional, festive (e.g., Christmas gammon). Slang: old-fashioned, possibly working-class, or playful chiding. US: Primarily a culinary term for a specific cut of ham; neutral.
Frequency
Moderately frequent in UK culinary contexts; very low frequency for its slang sense in modern UK English. Rare in general American English outside specific contexts like gourmet food or backgammon.
Grammar
How to Use “gammon” in a Sentence
gammon (someone) into (doing something) [verb, archaic]serve (someone) gammon [food]win with a gammon [backgammon]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gammon” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He tried to gammon the old man out of his savings, but didn't succeed.
American English
- (Not used in this sense.)
adverb
British English
- (Not used.)
American English
- (Not used.)
adjective
British English
- (Rarely used as adjective; 'gammon steak' is a noun-noun compound.)
American English
- (Not used.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Unlikely, unless in food retail or export.
Academic
Rare, possibly in historical linguistics or culinary history.
Everyday
UK: Discussing food, especially festive meals. The slang is dated but understood.
Technical
In backgammon, a specific type of victory where the winner bears off all pieces while the opponent still has pieces on the winner's home board.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gammon”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gammon”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gammon”
- Using 'gammon' as a general synonym for 'ham' in all contexts (it's specific).
- Using the slang sense in American English where it's unknown.
- Confusing 'gammon' (food/game) with 'gammon' as a UK political term for a type of Brexit supporter (a highly specific, modern, derived usage).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Gammon is the hind leg of a pig cured like bacon (often smoked and requires cooking), while ham is typically cured and cooked, ready to eat. In practice, the terms are often used interchangeably in the UK.
It's a victory where one player removes all their pieces before their opponent has borne off any, worth double a normal game.
It's considered old-fashioned or dialectal in British English. You might hear it in period dramas or from older speakers, but it's not common in modern everyday speech.
Yes, but primarily in food contexts (specialty butchers, some restaurants) or when discussing backgammon. The slang meanings would be confusing.
A type of cured or smoked ham from a pig's hind leg, traditionally cured like bacon.
Gammon is usually formal (food); informal (british slang); technical (backgammon). in register.
Gammon: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡæmən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡæmən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Don't talk gammon! (UK informal)”
- “a gammon and a backgammon (winning sequence in the game)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
GAMMON reminds you of HAM. Both have an 'M' and come from the same animal.
Conceptual Metaphor
DECEPTION IS SMOKED MEAT (slang sense: 'talking gammon' suggests something preserved/fake, not fresh truth).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'gammon' LEAST likely to be used in modern American English?