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Definition of hokeypokey

hokeypokey

/ˌhoʊkiˈpoʊki/
ho · key · po · key
Plural:hokeypokeys
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hokeypokey Lexical Profile

hokeypokey Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American A popular participatory novelty folk dance performed in a circle to a song instructing participants to put various body parts in and out.

Example

"All the children at the birthday party gathered in a large circle to dance the hokeypokey."

2

Deception, trickery, or sleight of hand; nonsense or humbug.

Example

"The skeptical audience refused to believe the magician's claims, dismissing the entire act as mere hokeypokey."

3

New Zealand A crunchy, aerated honeycomb toffee, or a popular flavor of vanilla ice cream containing small pieces of this confection.

Example

"During our summer holiday in Auckland, we bought cones of hokeypokey at the beachside dairy."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for hokeypokey

• Nearby Words

hoisin
hoist
hokey
hokeypokey
hoki
hokitika
hold

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the 19th century as a playful rhyming reduplication altering 'hocus-pocus'. In New Zealand, the term was adopted from British and American street vendors' cries for cheap ice cream and later applied to honeycomb toffee.

Cite this Entry

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