Question

razzmatazz noun English speakers are fond of forming new words through reduplication of a base word, usually with just a slight change of sound. Think of okeydoke, fuddy-duddy, super-duper, roly-poly, fiddle-faddle, and dillydally. Another word is razzle-dazzle, formed by the reduplication of dazzle (itself a frequentative of daze). In the late-19th century, the spirit that prompted razzle-dazzle (one early meaning of which is "a state of confusion or hilarity") seems to have also inspired razzmatazz. The coiners of razzmatazz may also have had jazz in mind. Some of the earliest turn-of-the century uses of razzmatazz refer to rag-time or early jazz styles. By the mid-20th century, we'd come round to the "razzle-dazzle" sense, though we still haven't completely settled on the spelling. You might, for example, see razzamatazz. 1 : a confusing or colorful often gaudy action or display : razzle-dazzle2 : inflated, involved, and often deliberately ambiguous language : double-talk3 : vim, zing

Accepted Answer

October 15, 2017 raz-muh-TAZ We were disappointed by the candidate's speech, which offered plenty of razzmatazz but little substance."The fireworks, the razzmatazz, the artifice do not add to the sense of occasion. Instead of augmenting the competition's charm, they detract from it." — Rory Smith, The New York Times, 28 May 2017

Word	razzmatazz
Date	October 15, 2017
Type	noun
Syllables	raz-muh-TAZ
Etymology	English speakers are fond of forming new words through reduplication of a base word, usually with just a slight change of sound. Think of okeydoke, fuddy-duddy, super-duper, roly-poly, fiddle-faddle, and dillydally. Another word is razzle-dazzle, formed by the reduplication of dazzle (itself a frequentative of daze). In the late-19th century, the spirit that prompted razzle-dazzle (one early meaning of which is "a state of confusion or hilarity") seems to have also inspired razzmatazz. The coiners of razzmatazz may also have had jazz in mind. Some of the earliest turn-of-the century uses of razzmatazz refer to rag-time or early jazz styles. By the mid-20th century, we'd come round to the "razzle-dazzle" sense, though we still haven't completely settled on the spelling. You might, for example, see razzamatazz.
Examples	We were disappointed by the candidate's speech, which offered plenty of razzmatazz but little substance. "The fireworks, the razzmatazz, the artifice do not add to the sense of occasion. Instead of augmenting the competition's charm, they detract from it." — Rory Smith, The New York Times, 28 May 2017
Definition	1 : a confusing or colorful often gaudy action or display : razzle-dazzle 2 : inflated, involved, and often deliberately ambiguous language : double-talk 3 : vim, zing

Razzmatazz Reduplication Century Razzle Dazzle Early Jazz October Noun