What does humbug mean?
A humbug is someone who deceives others by pretending to be knowledgeable, trustworthy, or genuine, or a thing that is similarly fraudulent or misleading. The word often implies that a false appearance has been maintained convincingly enough to deceive people. In British English, it can also mean an annoying or disappointing person. A separate, more cheerful sense refers to a hard, striped peppermint candy. Although the term can sound formal or old-fashioned, it remains useful when describing an imposter, a fraudulent claim, or a pretentious performance. It carries a strong note of moral disapproval, suggesting that the deception is either deliberate or so convincing that it has misled the public.
A person who deceives others by pretending to be something they are not; an impostor or fraud.
"He was widely respected until it emerged that he was a humbug."
The term is dated and strongly disapproving.
A deceptive, fraudulent, or misleading thing.
"The elaborate scheme proved to be nothing but a humbug."
This use is especially associated with British English.
A hard candy made with striped layers of mint flavour.
"She chose a humbug from the bowl of sweets."
This sense is particularly common in British English.
A person who annoys or disappoints the speaker.
"Oh, be a humbug and help me for once."
This is an informal and mainly British usage.
The plural is used for deceptive people or fraudulent things; in the British candy sense, it is less common and often expressed by using the word in the plural without a possessive form.
"The newspaper exposed several humbugs who had sold worthless certificates."
Calling something a humbug is a classic way to expose a convincing fake: the word has long implied pretension as well as outright deceit.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does humbug come from?
The origin of the word is uncertain, and several explanations have been proposed without a generally accepted source. The familiar sense of a deceitful person became established in British English by the early nineteenth century, while the candy sense developed later and became especially common in Britain. The word has no clearly established etymology connecting it with a dependable family of cognates.
Related word forms
How humbug is actually used
The word is somewhat old-fashioned and can sound dismissive or accusing. The candy sense is especially associated with British English; the sense meaning an annoying person is also particularly British and informal.
Easily confused with humbug
A humbug is a deceptive person or fraudulent thing, whereas a bug is an insect or a defect in a system or device.
A humbug is commonly used for a person or supposed article that is false or misleading, while fraud more broadly denotes deception or a dishonest scheme.