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

Noun with some well-crafted hocus-pocus, the illusionist made the dove disappear from his hands
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
One of the important things Conclave does is to slowly peel back archaic layers to reveal what all the hocus-pocus represents in this day and age. Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2024 That's essentially what predictive AI does, minus the mystical hocus-pocus. Bernard Marr, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024 In the years since bitcoin was introduced, digital payment systems that skip the hocus-pocus, like Venmo and Apple Pay, have become ubiquitous. Paul Krugman, The Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2024 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

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 16 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

hocus-pocus

noun
ho·​cus-po·​cus
ˌhō-kə-ˈspō-kəs
1
: a magic trick
2
: nonsense used to deceive
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!