Quick answer
Legerdemain means sleight of hand; deceptive skill or trickery. It is usually pronounced lej-er-duh-MAYN, and today it is mostly used in stylized, literary, or playful contexts.
Word page
Legerdemain
Legerdemain means sleight of hand; deceptive skill or trickery. It belongs to magical, mythic, and mysterious words and works best in fantasy writing, mythic atmosphere, and language with ceremonial or uncanny flavor. You are more likely to meet it in literary, humorous, or deliberately stylized writing than in everyday speech.
At a glance
magicmythicmysterious
How to say it
Meaning in plain English
In plain English, legerdemain refers to sleight of hand; deceptive skill or trickery. It is most useful when a plain label would tell the truth but miss the tone, flavor, or comic edge.
Why this word feels absurd
Legerdemain feels absurd because it has more texture than the plain alternative, giving the idea an extra bit of theatrical, comic, or overbuilt energy.
Origin and history
Legerdemain is generally traced to from French for “lightness of hand”. In modern use, the history matters less than the strong tone the word still carries.
Is this word still used today?
Legerdemain is rare today and mostly appears in literary, humorous, historical, or deliberately stylized contexts. That rarity is part of the fun: it sounds chosen rather than automatic.
Example sentences
- The column dismissed the whole rumor as legerdemain.
- In the novel, one legerdemain is enough to derail the dinner party.
- She used legerdemain in the essay because the plain modern word felt too bland.
- The teacher paused to explain legerdemain before asking the class to use it in context.
- They kept repeating legerdemain because the sound of it was almost as memorable as the meaning.
When should you use this word?
Use legerdemain when you want a more vivid, characterful choice than the plain everyday alternative. It works especially well in fantasy writing, mythic atmosphere, and language with ceremonial or uncanny flavor.
Similar words
Abracadabra, Alchemy, Basilisk, Lalochezia, Lapwing
Opposite or contrasting words
ordinary explanation, plain realism, mundane language
Common questions
- What does legerdemain mean? Sleight of hand; deceptive skill or trickery.
- How do you pronounce legerdemain? It is commonly pronounced lej-er-duh-MAYN.
- Is legerdemain still used today? Legerdemain is rare today and mostly appears in literary, humorous, historical, or deliberately stylized contexts. That rarity is part of the fun: it sounds chosen rather than automatic.
- When should you use legerdemain? Use legerdemain when you want a more vivid, characterful choice than the plain everyday alternative. It works especially well in fantasy writing, mythic atmosphere, and language with ceremonial or uncanny flavor.
- What words are similar to legerdemain? Similar words include Abracadabra, Alchemy, Basilisk, and Lalochezia.
Editorial note
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 9, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.