mumbo jumbo
noun
mum·bo jum·bo
ˌməm-bō-ˈjəm-(ˌ)bō 
1
: an object of superstitious homage and fear
2
a
: a complicated often ritualistic observance with elaborate trappings
b
: complicated activity or language usually intended to obscure and confuse
3
: unnecessarily involved and incomprehensible language : gibberish
4
: language, behavior, or beliefs based on superstition
Synonyms
Examples of mumbo jumbo in a Sentence
We were confused by all the legal mumbo jumbo.
His explanation was just a lot of mumbo jumbo.
Recent Examples on the Web
Part of the challenge navigating this thread is discerning what’s actually material and what’s just performative mumbo jumbo.
—
Vulture, 25 Jan. 2024
But whatever all-for-one, the-strength-of-the-wolf-is-the-pack mumbo jumbo that has held the Pac-12 together for the past year now feels painfully trite.
—Bill Oram, oregonlive, 27 July 2023
The techie in me had some serious questions about the dialogue involving The Entity’s source code; he was overruled by the part of me that loves when movie dialogue devolves into scientific mumbo jumbo.
—Odie Henderson, BostonGlobe.com, 10 July 2023
Before getting down to business in Spain, Amorth is dressed down by a sniveling young Cardinal (Ryan O’Grady) who places little stock in supernatural mumbo jumbo.
—Chris Vognar, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2023
Ivanka and Melania Trump should not be associated with any of that legal mumbo jumbo going on with the former president.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 30 Mar. 2023
To help, not to skip, through legal mumbo jumbo.
—Adrienne Gaffney, ELLE, 20 Sep. 2022
No need for fancy policy talk or corporate regulatory mumbo jumbo.
—Quartz Staff, Quartz, 28 Feb. 2023
A lot of pseudo-scientific mumbo jumbo to spin a lie.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 18 Feb. 2012
Vulture, 25 Jan. 2024
But whatever all-for-one, the-strength-of-the-wolf-is-the-pack mumbo jumbo that has held the Pac-12 together for the past year now feels painfully trite.
—Bill Oram, oregonlive, 27 July 2023
The techie in me had some serious questions about the dialogue involving The Entity’s source code; he was overruled by the part of me that loves when movie dialogue devolves into scientific mumbo jumbo.
—Odie Henderson, BostonGlobe.com, 10 July 2023
Before getting down to business in Spain, Amorth is dressed down by a sniveling young Cardinal (Ryan O’Grady) who places little stock in supernatural mumbo jumbo.
—Chris Vognar, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2023
Ivanka and Melania Trump should not be associated with any of that legal mumbo jumbo going on with the former president.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 30 Mar. 2023
To help, not to skip, through legal mumbo jumbo.
—Adrienne Gaffney, ELLE, 20 Sep. 2022
No need for fancy policy talk or corporate regulatory mumbo jumbo.
—Quartz Staff, Quartz, 28 Feb. 2023
A lot of pseudo-scientific mumbo jumbo to spin a lie.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 18 Feb. 2012
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mumbo jumbo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Mumbo Jumbo, a masked figure among Mandingo peoples of western Africa
First Known Use
1738, in the meaning defined at sense 1
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Dictionary Entries Near mumbo jumbo
Cite this Entry
“Mumbo jumbo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mumbo%20jumbo. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
mumbo jumbo
noun
mum·bo jum·bo
ˌməm-bō-ˈjəm-bō
1
: a complicated ceremony
2
: confusing or meaningless talk or activity
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