At a glance
- Word
- Legerdemain
- Pronunciation
- lej-er-duh-MAYN
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Meaning
- Sleight of hand; deceptive skill or trickery
- Tone
- mysterious
- Origin
- From French for “lightness of hand”
- Usage level
- rare
magicmythicmysterious
Word page
Legerdemain
In plain English, legerdemain means sleight of hand, especially the kind used in magic tricks or clever deception. This unusual word appears in Magical, Mythic, and Mysterious Words and is worth knowing for readers searching for meaning, pronunciation, origin, usage, and example sentences.
At a glance
magicmythicmysterious
How to say it
Meaning in plain English
In plain English, legerdemain means sleight of hand, especially the kind used in magic tricks or clever deception.
Why this word feels absurd
Legerdemain feels absurd because it sounds ornate and aristocratic for a word about quick hands and trickery.
Origin and history
Borrowed from French, the word originally referred very directly to nimble hand movement. In English it came to describe both literal conjuring tricks and figurative deception.
Is this word still used today?
Yes, though Legerdemain is not one of the most common words in everyday conversation. It tends to appear when a writer wants something more vivid, precise, or distinctive than a plain alternative.
Example sentences
- The magician’s legerdemain was so smooth that nobody saw the card switch.
- Critics accused the minister of statistical legerdemain rather than honest explanation.
- The novel delights in theatrical fraud, disguise, and social legerdemain.
When should you use this word?
Use Legerdemain when you want something more vivid, distinctive, or precise than a flatter everyday alternative. It works best in writing that welcomes color and voice.
Similar words
Abracadabra, Alchemy, Basilisk, Lalochezia, Lapwing
Opposite or contrasting words
clarity, simplicity, plainness
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 a real English word? Yes. Legerdemain is a real English word or established term in English usage.
- Is legerdemain still used today? Today, legerdemain survives in literary prose, criticism, magic history, and political commentary about clever verbal trickery.
- What words are similar to legerdemain? sleight of hand, trickery, deception.