What does malarkey mean?
Malarkey is an informal word for stupid, absurd, or misleading talk. People commonly use it to dismiss a story, explanation, or argument as empty or nonsensical, often with phrases such as “a load of malarkey.” The tone is distinctly disparaging rather than neutral: it suggests that what is being described is not merely incorrect or poorly reasoned, but foolish enough to deserve ridicule. Malarkey can also refer more broadly to foolish behavior, although its most frequent use is for language or claims. The word appears in both British and American English, though it is never fully formal and may sound especially dismissive in political or public argument. Its origins are uncertain, which makes it an appealing word for discussing the gap between confident speech and meaningful content. In everyday use, malarkey is more openly dismissive than “nonsense” and generally more confrontational than “incorrect.”
Stupid, nonsensical, misleading, or absurd talk or writing.
"What are you listening to? That's a lot of malarkey."
Informal and usually contemptuous; it often expresses stronger dismissive disapproval than “nonsense.”
Foolish or absurd behavior generally.
"The committee's deliberations were mostly malarkey."
This broader sense is less common than the word's use for foolish talk or writing.
The plural is used for separate instances of foolish or nonsensical talk; the singular is more often used in the expression “a load of malarkey.”
"The interview was filled with malarkeys that obscured the truth."
Malarkey names something absurd, yet even the word's own origin remains a mystery.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does malarkey come from?
Malarkey is an early 20th-century word that became established in American English, but its precise origin is uncertain. Dictionaries generally describe its earlier derivation as unknown, and no reliable family of cognates can confidently be identified.
How malarkey is actually used
This is an informal, generally disparaging word. It is especially common in speech and informal writing, where it conveys contempt or dismissive amusement more strongly than the neutral word “nonsense.”
Easily confused with malarkey
Malarkey means foolish or nonsensical talk, whereas malfeasance is wrongdoing or misconduct, especially by an official or trusted person.
Malarkey refers to nonsense or foolish talk, while a mulligan is a second chance or a replacement stroke in golf.