Bloviation

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /bləʊvɪˈeɪʃən/

Definitions

1. The practice of expressing oneself in an inflated and wordy style often involves a lack of coherent substance or genuine relevance
2. Engaging in overly elaborate and pompous discourse typically results in communication that is more style than meaningful content
3. The action of speaking or writing in a verbose and inflated manner tends to prioritize grandiosity over actual meaning or clarity

Etymology: Warren G. Harding, the American president, is the person behind this word's popularity. Harding, who served from 1921 until his death in 1923, was famous for speeches that were long on sound and short on substance, and the word was coined as a way to mock them. It was built from "bloviate," a verb that has been traced to the 1880s, and the "-ion" ending turns that verb into a noun naming the act itself. The verb's origin is less certain. Writer and word historian Ben Zimmer has examined its early use, and his work, which defends Harding against the mockery his style attracted, sets out the record of how the term spread through American political talk. The noun followed its verb, giving a name to the practice of talking at length without saying much.

Synonyms: talkativeness, verbosity, garrulity, rambling, loquacity