hocus-pocus

1 of 2

noun

ho·​cus-po·​cus ˌhō-kəs-ˈpō-kəs How to pronounce hocus-pocus (audio)
1
2
: nonsense or sham used especially to cloak deception

hocus-pocus

2 of 2

verb

hocus-pocussed or hocus-pocused; hocus-pocussing or hocus-pocusing

transitive verb

: to play tricks on

Examples of hocus-pocus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
There were a lot of hocus-pocus remedies like bee stings — pretty crazy things that were not going to help you. Degen Pener, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 May 2023 The regulatory agency posted a public safety notification warning people not to use eye drops with such ingredients—products more akin to hocus-pocus than modern medicine. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 20 Apr. 2023 The occult isn't just a bunch of hocus-pocus to Vanessa Hudgens. Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 15 Apr. 2023
Verb
The term, ‘problematic,’ which the WRU uses like part of a ritualistic formulae, is postgraduate humanities burble, the hocus-pocus gesture of a shallow, paraprofessional idiom that avoids candor. Matthew Carey Salyer, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hocus-pocus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably from hocus pocus, imitation Latin phrase used by jugglers

First Known Use

Noun

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1774, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hocus-pocus was in 1647

Dictionary Entries Near hocus-pocus

Cite this Entry

“Hocus-pocus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hocus-pocus. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hocus-pocus

noun
ho·​cus-po·​cus
ˌhō-kə-ˈspō-kəs
1
: a magic trick
2
: nonsense used to deceive
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