WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
huck•ster /ˈhʌkstɚ/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
huck•ster•ism, n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Informal Termsa person who uses showy methods of promoting or advertising things.
- a person who sells small items;
hawker.
huck•ster•ism, n. [uncountable]
huck•ster
(huk′stər),USA pronunciation n.
v.t., v.i.
huck′ster•ism, n.
huck′ster•ish, adj.
- a retailer of small articles, esp. a peddler of fruits and vegetables;
hawker. - a person who employs showy methods to effect a sale, win votes, etc.:the crass methods of political hucksters.
- a cheaply mercenary person.
- Informal Terms
- a persuasive and aggressive salesperson.
- a person who works in the advertising industry, esp. one who prepares aggressive advertising for radio and television.
v.t., v.i.
- to deal, as in small articles, or to make petty bargains:to huckster fresh corn; to huckster for a living.
- to sell or promote in an aggressive and flashy manner.
- Middle English huccstere (perh. cognate with Middle Dutch hokester), equivalent. to hucc- haggle (cognate with dialect, dialectal German hucken to huckster) + -stere -ster 1150–1200
huck′ster•ish, adj.