bluffing

American  

[bluhf-ing] / ˈblʌf ɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of misleading someone by a display of strength, self-confidence, or the like.

   While the bluffing goes on at the negotiating table, the public, the striking workers, and the employer all lose.

2. Poker, Bridge. the act of deceiving an opponent by a show of confidence in the strength of one’s cards.

   The digital version of the game falls short, because the bluffing needs that eye-to-eye contact, the smug and knowing smiles.

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adjective

1. deceiving or misleading someone by a display of strength or confidence.

   Determining whether one faces a serious or bluffing adversary constitutes a major challenge in the bargaining process.

   “Advertising budget” is a poker term for the amount of chips a bluffing player is willing to invest to deceive opponents.

Other Word Forms

• unbluffing adjective

Etymology

Origin of bluffing

First recorded in 1845–50; bluff ² ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses; bluff ² ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective sense

Example Sentences

As it turned out, the bluffing may have been unnecessary.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

Mehdi, a 58-year-old salesman believes the opposite, saying that "the Americans are bluffing" and that "the negotiations will be 100% successful".

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

"We aren't bluffing or joking - we don't have a purpose media wise we are only for money and money only and one of our main managers wanted me to reach out to you."

From BBC • Sep. 29, 2025

As the conference approached its scheduled end this week, the U.N.’s climate chief chided negotiators for digging in their heels and wasting time with bluffing and brinkmanship.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2024

Nobody said anything, but we knew he was bluffing.

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan

Related Words

• corrupt
• crooked
• deceitful
• deceptive
• false
• fraudulent
• misleading
• shady
• sneaky
• underhanded
• unfair
• unprincipled
• unscrupulous
• untrustworthy