What does blague mean?
Blague is a noun denoting an extravagant lie, a tall story, or a deliberate piece of deception presented as fact. Borrowed from French, where the word can mean both a practical joke and a fib, it entered English as a somewhat literary term for humbug — talk that sounds impressive but deserves no credence. It typically carries a wry, even affectionate connotation: a blague is usually the work of a raconteur embellishing a tale rather than a swindler committing fraud. A writer might describe a traveler's improbable adventures as 'pure blague', signaling playful skepticism toward the storyteller. The related noun 'blagueur' denotes someone given to such storytelling. Because it is relatively rare and distinctly Gallic in flavor, using 'blague' lends a sentence a refined, worldly tone, making it a useful word for anyone who wants to call out exaggeration with elegance rather than blunt accusation.
nounA piece of nonsense or humbug; an extravagant lie, tall story, or deliberate deception presented as truth.
- An extravagant lie, tall tale, or deliberate deception told as though true.
- Nonsense or humbug generally; talk that should not be taken seriously.
"His account of dining with the ambassador was pure blague, yet everyone at the table hung on every word."
"The explorer's tales of a talking parrot that spoke three languages were dismissed as blague by his more skeptical colleagues."
"Don't believe a word he says about his racing career — it's all blague."
The plural is regular; it most often appears when referring to multiple stories or instances of humbug.
"The memoir is laced with blagues that no biographer has ever been able to verify."
Borrowed straight from French, 'blague' lets you dismiss a whopper with a single elegant word — it's 'humbug' with a French accent.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of blague
Blague was borrowed into English from French in the 19th century. The French word means both 'joke' and 'lie' or 'tall story', and its ultimate origin is uncertain, so no definitive earlier source can be stated confidently. In English it settled into literary use as a label for humbug or elaborate fabrication. The derivative 'blagueur' — one who habitually tells such tales — came from the same French source.
Related word forms
How blague is actually used
Literary and rather old-fashioned in tone; it carries a connotation of charming, often harmless exaggeration rather than malicious deceit. More common in British writing influenced by French idiom than in everyday American speech.
Easily confused with blague
'Blag' is British slang meaning to obtain something by persuasion or deception (or a robbery), while 'blague' is a more literary term for a tall story or piece of humbug.
A 'blog' is a regularly updated website of written content, whereas 'blague' refers to a lie, joke, or piece of nonsense.