- Today's Word
Razzmatazz
[RAZ-muh-taz]
Definition
- (noun) Exciting action or impression intended to attract and impress people. It often describes elaborate or showy display, fanfare, or flashy technique used to dazzle an audience.
Example
The new Broadway show was full of razzmatazz, with dazzling costumes, spectacular dance numbers, and over-the-top special effects that left the audience in awe.
Fun Fact
The word “razzmatazz” (also spelled “razzamatazz”) first appeared in American English in the early 20th century. Its exact origin is unclear, but it’s thought to be an elaborate variation of the word “razzle-dazzle,” which has a similar meaning. The term gained popularity in the world of entertainment, particularly in describing the flashy, attention-grabbing aspects of vaudeville and musical theater performances.
(adjective) Obviously planned or forced rather than arising naturally; lacking authenticity or spontaneity.
The film’s ending felt contrived — a sudden reconciliation between characters who had spent two hours proving they could never forgive each other.
Contrived comes from the verb contrive, rooted in the Old French controver, meaning “to imagine” or “to find out,” itself from the Latin contropare — “to compare” or “to devise.” It entered English in the 14th century originally meaning simply to plan or devise something cleverly. Over time the word acquired its current negative undertone, shifting from neutral ingenuity toward the suggestion of something manipulated or artificially engineered to produce a desired effect.