See Also: Barnum(dictionary)
Barnum, P.T.(dictionary)
Barnum, P(hineas) T(aylor)(encyclopedia)

Barnum (iou)



Barnum noun. M19.
[Phineas T. Barnum (1810-91), US showman.]
Humbug; empty showmanship.
Comb.: Barnum effect Psychology the tendency of individuals to accept types of information such as character assessments or horoscopes as being particularly true of themselves, even when the information is so vague as to be worthless.
Barnu'mese noun inflated or sensational language L19.