Cockamamie is an informal adjective used to describe something that seems ridiculousvery silly and deserving little respect, implausibleunlikely to be true or believable, or badly thought out. It often suggests that an idea, excusea reason given to explain a mistake or action, or explanation is so silly that it is hard to take seriously.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˌkɑːkəˈmeɪmi/
Easy pronunciation: kah-kə-MAY-mee (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress on the third syllable, with secondary stress at the start.
Used for the adjective meaning ridiculous, implausible, or absurdly silly.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Cockamamie Meaning
very silly and hard to believe
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: ridiculous and implausible; absurdly silly or unreasonable
Example: He gave me a cockamamie reason for not going.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- cockamamy — A close spelling variant listed as a synonym in the source data.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Cockamamie Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- cockamamy
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse cockamamie with cockamamy; they are very close forms, but cockamamie is the standard spelling in this entry.
- It is informal, so it is usually not suitable for formal writing.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does cockamamie mean?
Cockamamie means ridiculous, implausible, or foolish in an informal way.
What part of speech is cockamamie?
Cockamamie is an adjective.
Is cockamamie a formal word?
No. It is informal and is usually used in casual speech or writing.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.