Dictionary

bloviation en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /bloʊvɪˈeɪʃən/ (General-American)
• /bləʊvɪˈeɪʃən/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From bloviate + -ion.

Meanings

1. (US, countable, informal, possibly, uncountable) A boastful or pompous manner of speaking or writing; a lengthy discourse delivered in that manner.
   • As critics saw it, the inaugural address of the twenty-ninth president [Warren Gamaliel Harding] was full of bloviation. Official newspaper reaction was positive if restrained. 1993, John T. Morello, “President Warren G. Harding’s Inaugural Address, 1921”, in Halford Ryan, editor, The Inaugural Addresses of Twentieth-century American Presidents (Praeger Series in Political Communication), Westport, Conn.: Praeger Publishers, Greenwood Publishing Group, →ISBN, →ISSN, pages 53–54:
   • For doing my duty, I claim no credit—I seek no “bloviations”—I ask for no sacrifices—I desire no ovations— [...] 1850 June 29, J. McCormick, J. V. Smith (official reporter), “[Report No. 1 on the Judiciary]”, in Report of the Debates and Proceedings of the Convention for the Revision of the Constitution of the State of Ohio, 1850–51, Columbus, Oh.: S. Medary, printer to the Convention, published 1851, →OCLC, page 640, column 1:
   • The [New York] Times itself, though, is very much alive. The newspaper is less stenographic, more relevant, and in some ways an even more assuring and indispenable morning touchstone in a nonstop torrent of breaking news and a bottomless pit of bloviation. 2009 November, Sam Roberts, “Introduction”, in Only in New York: An Exploration of the World’s Most Fascinating, Frustrating, and Irrepressible City, New York, N.Y.: St. Martin’s Press, →ISBN, page 4:
   • The members of this convention are neither fogies nor faddists nor men given to bloviation for the sole purpose of stimulating activities in real estate. 1909 December 7, J. W. Jeffrey, “Address”, in Proceedings of the Thirty-sixth Convention of the California State Fruit Growers, Held under the Auspices of the State Commission of Horticulture, at Watsonville, December 7, 8, 9 and 10, 1909, volume II, Sacramento, Calif.: W. W. Shannon, […], published 1910, page 16:
   • Sects generally claim for their founders some successful speculators, who, whether deserving or not, had obtained reputations. Most commonly the reputation is dependant on the amount of bloviation that has been practiced, and certainly, in some instances, this has been extensive enough. 1857 January, G. W. L. Bickley, “History of the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, and Its Ethical Peculiarities”, in R[obert] S. Newton, editor, The Eclectic Medical Journal, volume I (Fifth Series; volume XVI overall), number 1, Cincinnati, Oh.: Published by R. S. Newton, […], →OCLC, pages 13–14:

Forms

Relateds

bloviate · bloviator · bloviating

Translations (1)

et sõnavaht (lengthy discourse in a boastful or pompous manner)