mumbo jumbo: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2informal, slightly pejorative
Quick answer
What does “mumbo jumbo” mean?
Language, ritual, or activity that is unnecessarily complex, obscure, or nonsensical.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Language, ritual, or activity that is unnecessarily complex, obscure, or nonsensical; meaningless or deceptive talk.
Used to describe any confusing, elaborate, and unintelligible jargon or ceremonial activity designed to impress or obscure the truth.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is nearly identical in both varieties. Possibly slightly more common in British English to describe bureaucratic or official jargon.
Connotations
Generally negative, suggesting fraud, deception, or pointless complexity. Can be humorous when used lightly.
Frequency
Medium frequency in both; common in political and social commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “mumbo jumbo” in a Sentence
[subject] is/are full of mumbo jumbo[subject] dismissed it as mumbo jumbocut through the [adjective] mumbo jumboVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mumbo jumbo” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The contract was full of legal mumbo-jumbo that no ordinary person could understand.
- He dismissed the ancient ritual as superstitious mumbo jumbo.
American English
- I skipped the terms of service—it's just a bunch of legal mumbo jumbo.
- All that scientific mumbo jumbo went right over my head.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used to criticise overly complex financial reports or corporate legalese.
Academic
May describe excessively obscure theoretical language in some humanities fields.
Everyday
Used to express frustration with complicated instructions, terms and conditions, or official forms.
Technical
Rarely used within a technical field itself; used by outsiders to criticise the field's jargon.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mumbo jumbo”
- Spelling as 'mumbojumbo' (should be two words or hyphenated).
- Using it to simply mean 'a lie' (it emphasizes complexity/obscurity, not just falsity).
- Capitalising it as a proper noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be, as its origin is tied to a derogatory colonial representation of African religious practices. Today, it's primarily used for language/ritual, but sensitivity is advised regarding its historical context.
It is informal and pejorative. In formal writing, alternatives like 'obscure jargon', 'impenetrable terminology', or 'arcane language' are more appropriate.
'Gibberish' is completely unintelligible and nonsensical. 'Mumbo jumbo' often has a structure or internal logic but is deliberately overly complex, obscure, or presented in a way that seems designed to confuse or impress rather than communicate.
Both 'mumbo jumbo' (open) and 'mumbo-jumbo' (hyphenated) are acceptable. Dictionaries vary, but the hyphenated form is common, especially when used attributively (e.g., 'mumbo-jumbo language').
Language, ritual, or activity that is unnecessarily complex, obscure, or nonsensical.
Mumbo jumbo: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmʌm.bəʊ ˈdʒʌm.bəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmʌm.boʊ ˈdʒʌm.boʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cut through the mumbo jumbo”
- “dismiss something as mumbo jumbo”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a witch doctor chanting 'MUM-bo JUM-bo' – it sounds impressive but means nothing to you.
Conceptual Metaphor
OBSCURE/MEANINGLESS COMMUNICATION IS PRIMITIVE RITUAL.
Practice
Quiz
Which situation best exemplifies 'mumbo jumbo'?