humbug

UK: /ˈhʌmbʌg/ US: /ˈhʌmˌbʌg/ ,(hum′bug′)

Inflections of 'humbug' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

humbugs

v 3rd person singular

humbugging

v pres p

humbugged

v past

humbugged

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

hum•bug /ˈhʌmˌbʌg/   n. 

1. [uncountable] something intended to fool, trick, or deceive others.
2. [countable] a person who is not what he or she claims to be;
   an impostor.
3. [uncountable] meaningless or empty talk;
   nonsense.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

hum•bug  (hum′bug′), n., v., -bugged, -bug•ging, interj. 
n. 

1. something intended to delude or deceive.
2. the quality of falseness or deception.
3. a person who is not what he or she claims or pretends to be;
   impostor.
4. something devoid of sense or meaning;
   nonsense:
   a humbug of technical jargon.
5. British Terms a variety of hard mint candy.

v.t. 

6. to impose upon by humbug or false pretense;
   delude;
   deceive.

v.i. 

7. to practice humbug.

interj. 

8. nonsense!

• origin, originally uncertain 1730–40

hum′bug′ger, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. imposition.
• 2. pretense, sham.
• 3. pretender, deceiver, charlatan, swindler, quack, confidence man.
• 6. cheat, swindle, trick, fool, dupe.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

humbug / ˈhʌmˌbʌɡ/ noun

1. a person or thing that tricks or deceives
2. nonsense; rubbish
3. a hard boiled sweet, usually flavoured with peppermint and often having a striped pattern

verb ( -bugs, -bugging, -bugged)

1. to cheat or deceive (someone)

Etymology: 18th Century: of unknown origin

ˈhumˌbugger noun

ˈhumˌbuggery noun