bombast
Americannoun
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speech too pompous for an occasion; pretentious words.
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Obsolete. cotton or other material used to stuff garments; padding.
adjective
noun
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pompous and grandiloquent language
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obsolete material used for padding
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of bombast
1560–70; earlier bombace padding < Middle French < Medieval Latin bombācem, accusative of bombāx; see bombax family
Explanation
Bombast is a noun meaning pretentious or boastful talk. If your football coach is known for his bombast, he probably gives a pompous speech before each game about the greatness of the team and, of course, his coaching. Originally, bombast was cotton padding used to stuff or pad things like seat cushions. The meaning was extended to include padded and overstuffed speaking or writing, especially speech that's pretentious and showy. Other words with bombast at their roots include the adjective bombastic and the adverb bombastically. For all your coach's bluster and bombast, he's a pretty nice guy — too bad his overblown rhetoric turns people off before they get to know him.
Vocabulary lists containing bombast
"What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?" by Frederick Douglass
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"'Blaxicans' and Other Reinvented Americans," Vocabulary from the argument
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Vocabulary Heard at the 2016 Democratic National Convention
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Bombast is not in Mr. Walker’s nature, though he does share Trump’s penchant for unscripted, sometimes incoherent, remarks.
From New York Times • Oct. 2, 2022
Bombast, stupid comments, idiotic comments are not enough to win an election,” Paul said.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 15, 2015
Bombast and eccentricity are almost articles of faith.
From Washington Post • Jan. 7, 2015
Bombast without an audience is a hollow thing indeed.
From The Guardian • Aug. 16, 2012
Bombast, in German bombast, cognate with Latin bombyx in the sense of cotton.
From The Browning Cyclop?dia A Guide to the Study of the Works of Robert Browning by Berdoe, Edward
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
