trumpery

American  

[truhm-puh-ree] / ˈtrʌm pə ri /

noun

trumperies plural

1. something without use or value; rubbish; trash; worthless stuff.

2. nonsense; twaddle.

   His usual conversation is pure trumpery.

3. Archaic. worthless finery.

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adjective

1. of little or no value; trifling, worthless; rubbishy; trashy.

trumpery British  

/ ˈtrʌmpərɪ /

noun

1. foolish talk or actions

2. a useless or worthless article; trinket

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adjective

1. useless or worthless

Etymology

Origin of trumpery

1425–75; late Middle English trompery deceit < Middle French tromperie, equivalent to tromp ( er ) to deceive + -erie -ery

Explanation

Pretty or fancy objects that are completely useless can be called trumpery. Your huge collection of animal salt and pepper shakers is nothing but trumpery. Trumpery is typically fun to look at, but not very practical or worth very much. Many collectible objects are trumpery, like the dolls your grandma buys to display throughout her house or the cheap plastic jewelry your sister always spends her allowance on. Another kind of trumpery is equally useless or worthless speech, whether it's written or spoken. Trumpery comes from the Old French tromperie, with its root of tromper, "to deceive."

Example Sentences

Back at the studio the anchors vacuously nod at Nandor's escalating trumpery, as they do when The Guide wrests Joanna's microphone away to parley on behalf of all vampires.

From Salon • Aug. 4, 2023

It was both trumpeted as a global achievement and dismissed as overly commercialized "trumpery."

From Seattle Times • Aug. 9, 2012

When Upstairs, Downstairs was first broadcast on Sunday 10 October 1971, Britain was struggling with decimalisation and that new-fangled trumpery of a gaudy Satan, colour telly.

From The Guardian • Dec. 24, 2010

I go on as usual, reading every trumpery novel that comes in my way spoiling my taste and understanding.

From Time Magazine Archive

I commended it highly to the worthy Jenkins, who exultingly exclaimed— “That Llangollen ale indeed! no, no! ale like that, your honour, was never brewed in that trumpery hole Llangollen.”

From Wild Wales The People, Laguage & Scenery by Borrow, George Henry