Hokey

Pronunciation

• USRhymes: -əʊki

Alternative forms

• hokie, hoaky, hoky

Origin

From the verb hoke ("to give an artificial feel to"), from hokum.

Full definition of hokey

Adjective

1. (US, colloquial) phony, as if a hoax; noticeably contrived; of obviously flimsy credibility or quality
• When asked for his book report, Chad came up a series of hokier and hokier excuses, until he finally admitted that he hadn’t done it at all.
• I thought the bargain-priced windshield wiper blades were a little hokey when I saw their cheap packaging, but when they flew off the end of the wiper during a rainstorm, I knew for sure.
2. (US, colloquial) corny; overly or unbelievably sentimental
• Terry hated going to the cinema with Pat, as Pat always chose hokey romantic comedies that made Terry want to gag.

Synonyms

• (fake) phony
• (sentimental) cheesy, corny, kitschy

Related terms

• hokiness
• hoke
• hokum