Overview

Episode Theme:
This episode of the Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day podcast, released on January 28, 2026, explores the word “bombast.” The host, Peter Sokolowski, delves into its current meaning, usage in context, and fascinating historical roots, with characteristic clarity and insight.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Definition and Usage

• Bombast (noun):

  • Meaning: Speech or writing that is meant to sound important or impressive but is not sincere or meaningful.
  • Spelling: B-O-M-B-A-S-T

• Example in Context (Newsweek, quoting P.J. Blunt):

  “This is bombast that has not been thought through from a policy perspective. I know that many in the space community find this to be exciting and want to believe the hype behind such an announcement. Mars is exciting. However, I think we have to ask ourselves whether getting to Mars is worth the moral costs in addition to the economic costs and potential risks to human lives.”
  [00:25]

Etymology

• Origins:

  • First entered English in the mid to late 16th century, not as a rhetorical term but as a textile term meaning cotton or similar soft, fibrous material used as padding or stuffing.
  • Traces back to the Middle Persian noun pambak, meaning "cotton".
  • Within about a decade, the word shifted from literal “stuffing” to a figurative sense: writing or speech stuffed with pretentious, ostentatious verbiage.
  • “Bombast” became synonymous with empty grandiloquence.

• Related Term:

  • Bombastic (adjective) appeared about a century later and quickly became "a favorite choice to describe blowhards, bloaters, and cockalorums ever since." [01:25]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the definition:

  “Bombast is a noun. It's a formal word that refers to speech or writing that is meant to sound important or impressive, but that is not sincere or meaningful.”
  — Peter Sokolowski, Host [00:15]

• On etymology and figurative use:

  “Within a decade it had extended from literal stuffing to figurative stuffing, referring to speech or writing that is padded with pretentious verbiage.”
  — Peter Sokolowski, Host [01:10]

• On bombastic types:

  “The adjective bombastic...has been a favorite choice to describe blowhards, bloaters, and cockalorums ever since.”
  — Peter Sokolowski, Host [01:25]

Timeline of Important Segments

• [00:00] — Introduction of the word "bombast," spelling, part of speech, and definition.
• [00:25] — Example usage in a Newsweek context, illustrating the word’s meaning.
• [00:46] — Historical background and origins of "bombast" as a textile term from Middle Persian.
• [01:10] — Transition to figurative use and the later arrival of the adjective “bombastic.”
• [01:25] — Playful mention of words like "blowhards, bloaters, and cockalorums" as targets of the term “bombastic.”

Tone & Delivery

• The episode maintains an engaging, educational, and slightly whimsical tone, typical of Peter Sokolowski. His descriptions blend factual detail with playful language, making linguistic history lively and accessible.

Summary Table

| Timestamp | Segment | Highlights | |-----------|---------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Definition and spelling | Formal noun; insincere, impressive-sounding language | | 00:25 | Example sentence (Newsweek/P.J. Blunt)| Real-world application in policy and science communication | | 00:46 | Etymology: textile term, Persian root | Origin story from “pambak” (cotton) to rhetorical term | | 01:10 | Figurative extension | Literal “stuffing” to metaphorical “stuffed” with pretension | | 01:25 | Advent of “bombastic,” related terms | Colorful application to verbose personalities |

For Listeners

If you want a vivid, memorable snapshot of how the word bombast developed from cotton stuffing to rhetorical hot air, and how you might recognize (or use) the word today, this episode delivers in less than two minutes, packing learning into a delightfully un-bombastic package.

With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sokolowski.