bullshit

American  

[bool-shit] / ˈbʊlˌʃɪt /

noun

1. nonsense, lies, or exaggeration.

---

verb (used with object)

bullshits, present (3rd person singular) bullshitted, past participle, past bullshit, past participle, past bullshitting present participle

1. to lie or exaggerate to.

verb (used without object)

bullshits, present (3rd person singular) bullshitted, past participle, past bullshit, past participle, past bullshitting present participle

1. to speak lies or nonsense.

interjection

1. (used especially to express disagreement.)

idioms

1. call bullshit, to call out or direct attention to lies, nonsense, or exaggeration: null call BS

   It’s time to call bullshit on the fantasy of colonizing Mars and get to work saving the planet we already have.

bullshit British  

/ ˈbʊlʃɪt /

noun

1. exaggerated or foolish talk; nonsense

2. deceitful or pretentious talk

3. Usually shortened to: bull.  (in the British Army) exaggerated zeal, esp for ceremonial drill, cleaning, polishing, etc

---

verb

1. (intr) to talk in an exaggerated or foolish manner

2. to talk bullshit to

Usage

This word was formerly considered to be taboo, and it was labelled as such in previous editions of Collins English Dictionary . However, it has now become acceptable in speech, although some older or more conservative people may object to its use

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• bullshitter
  noun

Inflected Forms

Participles

• bullshitting
  present
• bullshit
  past
• bullshitted
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• bullshit
  simple
• bullshits
  simple
• have bullshit
  perfect
• have bullshitted
  perfect
• has bullshit
  perfect
• has bullshitted
  perfect
• am bullshitting
  progressive
• are bullshitting
  progressive
• is bullshitting
  progressive
• have been bullshitting
  perfect progressive
• has been bullshitting
  perfect progressive

Past

• bullshit
  simple
• bullshitted
  simple
• had bullshit
  perfect
• had bullshitted
  perfect
• was bullshitting
  progressive
• were bullshitting
  progressive
• had been bullshitting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will bullshit
  simple
• will have bullshit
  perfect
• will have bullshitted
  perfect
• will be bullshitting
  progressive
• will have been bullshitting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of bullshit

First recorded in 1910–15; bull ¹ (perhaps reinforced by bull ² ) + shit

Example Sentences

The rapid information spread enabled by these apps allows for bullshit weather graphics, screenshots of random text threads, and A.I.-generated imagery to reach more people at a faster pace than was ever possible before.

From Slate • Oct. 11, 2024

I teach a class on bullshit — an act, often with full confidence, intended to persuade, with no allegiance to truth.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 31, 2023

A thought like, "Joan Didion was a master prose stylist and brilliant thinker who said some real bullshit about feminism" cannot stand.

From Salon • Jan. 15, 2022

Inscryption cuts out most of the bullshit that comes with traditional deckbuilding games and allows me to get to the good stuff: building a deck so overpowered that I feel like a god.

From The Verge • Nov. 2, 2021

It doesn’t matter that he's quite possibly talking complete bullshit, because Nick is a little bit irresistible when he's in one of his philosophical moods.

From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli

Related Words

• bull
• crap