imposture, fraud, sham, fake, humbug, counterfeit mean a thing made to seem other than it is. imposture applies to any situation in which a spurious object or performance is passed off as genuine.

When referring to a person, a humbug means a fraud or impostor, implying an element of unjustified publicity and spectacle. In modern usage, the word is most associated with the character Ebenezer …

HUMBUG definition: 1. dishonest talk, writing, or behaviour that is intended to deceive people: 2. a hard sweet…. Learn more.

HUMBUG definition: something intended to delude or deceive. See examples of humbug used in a sentence.

If you describe someone's language or behaviour as humbug, you mean that it is dishonest or insincere.

Jan 14, 2026 · humbug (third-person singular simple present humbugs, present participle humbugging, simple past and past participle humbugged) (slang) To play a trick on someone, to cheat, to swindle, …

Definition of humbug noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Humbug is language that's either deceptive or just ridiculous. Either way, it's verbal garbage and inspires people to mutter "Bah! Humbug!" — just like Scrooge did in A Christmas Carol.

HUMBUG meaning: 1 : language or behavior that is false or meant to deceive people; 2 : someone or something that is not honest or true

HUMBUG meaning: 1. dishonest talk, writing, or behaviour that is intended to deceive people: 2. a hard sweet…. Learn more.