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Definition of hokey

hokey

/ˈhoʊki/
ho · key
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hokey Lexical Profile

hokey Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

North American Noticeably contrived, overly sentimental, or unconvincing in an awkward or trite way.

Example

"Critics complained that the movie relied on hokey dialogue and predictable plot twists."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for hokey

• Nearby Words

hoh
hoisin
hoist
hokey
hokeypokey
hoki
hokitika

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in mid-20th-century American English as a colloquial derivative of 'hokum' (meaning theatrical nonsense or sentimentality), which was itself likely a blend of 'hocus-pocus' and 'bunkum'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hokey. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hokey
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