What does mishmash mean?
A mishmash is a mixture in which different elements remain visibly incompatible, confused, or poorly organized. The word can refer to physical substances, such as a mishmash of ingredients, but it is also commonly used for an array of unrelated objects, ideas, musical influences, or styles. Its tone is usually informal and mildly disapproving, though it can also be playful: describing a performance or design as a mishmash suggests that its eccentric mixture is striking rather than simply disordered. The word is especially useful when the important issue is not merely the presence of varied parts, but their apparent lack of coherence. In formal writing, a more neutral term such as mixture, collection, or combination may be preferable.
nounA confused or disorderly mixture of different things, people, ideas, or styles. The word is informal and often conveys mild criticism or amusement.
- A confused mixture of different materials, ingredients, or components.
- An untidy or disorderly collection of unrelated things, ideas, or styles.
- A confused mixture of people, influences, or characteristics.
"The final act was a mishmash of musical styles that somehow worked together."
"The room was filled with a mishmash of antique furniture and modern gadgets."
"His explanation was a mishmash of half-remembered facts and unsupported guesses."
The plural is mishmashes; it is less common than the singular but fully standard.
"The exhibition brought together several delightful mishmashes of traditional and modern design."
A mishmash is what happens when several perfectly good ingredients meet—but nobody agrees on the recipe.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mishmash come from?
The word dates from the 19th century and is generally understood as a playful formation involving mash, meaning a mixture, together with a prefix-like element. It was soon used figuratively for confused or heterogeneous collections. The formation follows the pattern of English reduplicative compounds, in which a familiar word is combined with a related sound to create a more emphatic or expressive term.
How mishmash is actually used
Informal; often slightly humorous but can also be critical. It is especially common in British and American English.
Easily confused with mishmash
A mash is a soft, thick mixture of crushed or mashed ingredients, whereas a mishmash is more generally a confused mixture of unlike elements.