mumbo jumbo

mum·bo jum·bo | \ ˌməm-bō-ˈjəm-(ˌ)bō

How to pronounce mumbo jumbo (audio)

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Definition of mumbo jumbo

1 : an object of superstitious homage and fear

2a : 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

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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 There’s validity, too, to the argument that Sunday Service is nothing more than , a lot of mumbo jumbo signifying nothing. — Erik Maza, Town & Country, "In Paris, Kanye West Was the Welcome Disruption Fashion Week Needed," 4 Mar. 2020 The marketing around the film heavily emphasized its jukebox-hits soundtrack, and it was packed with more weird space mumbo jumbo than every Star Wars film before it. — John Gilpatrick, Popular Mechanics, "The Marvel Decade: How Superheroes Ruled the Cinema in the 2010s," 26 Dec. 2019 Figuring out whether to buy a new iPhone always requires sorting through marketing mumbo jumbo. — Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Denver Post, "First look at iPhone 11: That’s an awful lot of cash for a camera," 15 Sep. 2019 No sugar cookies, no chocolate-chip mumbo jumbo, or your Nana’s special recipe. — Nr Editors, National Review, "The Week," 19 Dec. 2019 Figuring out whether to buy a new iPhone always requires sorting through marketing mumbo jumbo. — Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Denver Post, "First look at iPhone 11: That’s an awful lot of cash for a camera," 15 Sep. 2019 Figuring out whether to buy a new iPhone always requires sorting through marketing mumbo jumbo. — Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Denver Post, "First look at iPhone 11: That’s an awful lot of cash for a camera," 15 Sep. 2019 Figuring out whether to buy a new iPhone always requires sorting through marketing mumbo jumbo. — Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Denver Post, "First look at iPhone 11: That’s an awful lot of cash for a camera," 15 Sep. 2019 Figuring out whether to buy a new iPhone always requires sorting through marketing mumbo jumbo. — Geoffrey A. Fowler, The Denver Post, "First look at iPhone 11: That’s an awful lot of cash for a camera," 15 Sep. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mumbo jumbo.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Mumbo jumbo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mumbo%20jumbo. Accessed 20 Oct. 2020.

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