humbug: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowinformal, dated, chiefly British
Quick answer
What does “humbug” mean?
deception or false talk intended to gain an advantage or impress others.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
deception or false talk intended to gain an advantage or impress others; nonsense.
A person who is dishonest or pretentious; a fraud or imposter. In its literal historical sense, a type of hard, striped peppermint-flavored boiled sweet.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is far more established and recognized in British English. In American English, it is perceived as a very British, slightly archaic term, often associated specifically with Scrooge.
Connotations
In British English, it can express strong contempt for pretence or hypocrisy. In American English, it may sound quaint or literary.
Frequency
Very low frequency in modern American English; low but somewhat more recognized in British English due to cultural heritage.
Grammar
How to Use “humbug” in a Sentence
He dismissed the claim as (a) humbug.Don't talk such humbug!She called him a humbug.The whole speech was pure humbug.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “humbug” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He tried to humbug the committee with his fancy jargon.
- You can't humbug me, I know the truth.
American English
- The salesman attempted to humbug his customers. (archaic in AmE)
adjective
British English
- That's a humbug argument with no substance.
American English
- It was a humbug excuse. (very rare in AmE)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could be used dismissively about marketing claims or corporate greenwashing: 'Their commitment to sustainability is just corporate humbug.'
Academic
Extremely rare in formal writing. Might appear in historical or literary analysis (e.g., discussing Dickens).
Everyday
Used, if at all, in a humorous or emphatic way to dismiss something as nonsense or hypocrisy: 'Oh, don't give me that humbug!'
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “humbug”
- Using it as a common synonym for 'lie' (it's more about pretentious *talk* or behaviour).
- Misspelling as 'humbugg'.
- Using it in very formal contexts where it is inappropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered low-frequency and somewhat dated. It is most famously known from Charles Dickens's 'A Christmas Carol' and retains a theatrical or scornful tone.
Yes, historically, a humbug is a hard boiled sweet, usually striped and flavoured with peppermint. This meaning is now less common than the 'nonsense' meaning.
Primarily a noun. It can also be used as a verb (to deceive or talk nonsense to someone) and, much more rarely, as an adjective, though these uses are now archaic.
This phrase was popularised by Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens's 'A Christmas Carol'. 'Bah' is an exclamation of contempt, and 'humbug' means nonsense or false sentiment. Together, they express cynical dismissal, especially of festive cheer.
deception or false talk intended to gain an advantage or impress others.
Humbug is usually informal, dated, chiefly british in register.
Humbug: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhʌm.bʌɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhʌm.bʌɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Bah humbug! (expression of cynical dislike, especially for Christmas cheer)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of HUMBUG: HUMans who BUG you with fake talk.
Conceptual Metaphor
DECEPTION IS A WORTHLESS OBJECT / HYPOCRISY IS A CONTEMPTIBLE PERSON.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'humbug' MOST likely to be used correctly?