claptrap
/ˈklæpˌtɹæp/noun
claptrap is spelled C-L-A-P-T-R-A-P: 8 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 6 million words in written English, the 73,203rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, claptrap means “Empty verbiage or nonsense” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of claptrap is claptraps.
How many letters and syllables are in claptrap?
| Letters | 8: C-L-A-P-T-R-A-P |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 6 million words; the 73,203rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is claptrap?
Claptrap appears about once in every 6 million words in written English, the 73,203rd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce claptrap?
- US /ˈklæpˌtɹæp/
Claptrap has 2 syllables (counted from the pronunciation).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-au-claptrap.ogg, En-us-claptrap.oga, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with claptrap
Also written: clap-trap (one word or two).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of claptrap
- claptraps plural
- clap trap
- clap-trap
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does claptrap mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
Empty verbiage or nonsense.
- 2
A device for producing a clapping sound in theaters.
- 3
A device or trick to gain applause; a humbug.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Claptrap in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense empty verbiage or nonsense:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | verbiage, charabia, galimatias |
| German | Gerede, Geschwätz, Gequatsche |
| Spanish | algarabía, verborrea, galimatías, palabrería |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does claptrap come from?
Theater slang, c. 1730, from clap + trap, referring to theatrical techniques or gags used to incite applause.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).