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Definition of baloney

baloney

/bəˈloʊ.ni/
ba · lo · ney
Plural:baloneys
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baloney Lexical Profile

baloney Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American Foolish or deceptive talk; nonsense.

Example

"The politician's speech was full of empty promises and baloney."

2

North American A large smoked sausage made of finely minced meat; an alternative phonetic spelling of bologna.

Example

"He packed a simple baloney and cheese sandwich for his school lunch."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

While pronounced identically, the spelling 'baloney' is typically preferred for the informal sense of nonsense, whereas 'bologna' is the standard spelling for the meat.

• Rhymes for baloney

• Nearby Words

balloon vine
ballpoint
ballyhoo
baloney
balonne
balsa
balsam

Word Origin & Etymology

An Americanized phonetic spelling of 'Bologna', referring to the Italian city and its namesake sausage. The colloquial meaning of 'nonsense' arose in 1920s American slang, possibly from the idea that the sausage was made of cheap or mixed scraps.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Baloney. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/baloney
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