Balderdash

About this board game

Balderdash is a word-definition party game for 2–6 players, with a playing time of about 60 minutes. It contains cards featuring real words that few people have heard of, challenging players to sound convincing when they explain what each word means.

When a word is read aloud, players come up with definitions that seem plausible. The appeal lies in making an invented answer sound authentic enough to compete with the genuine definition. Points are awarded for every opposing player who believes your definition is the correct one.

• Players: 2–6
• Playing time: approximately 60 minutes
• Release year: 1984
• Core challenge: create believable definitions for obscure real words

Balderdash is a clever repackaging of the parlor game Dictionary, whose versions date back at least to 1970. The game itself was first published in 1984, placing its bluffing and wordplay at the center of a long-running party-game tradition.

Mattel republished Balderdash in 2006 in a form that derived its gameplay from the sequel Beyond Balderdash. The title has also been associated with Absolute Balderdash and the unusual lineage between the original game and its later reimplementations, including Kokkelimonke Jubileum.

Whether players rely on genuine knowledge or imaginative invention, the game rewards answers that persuade the table. Every obscure word creates a new opportunity to mislead opponents and collect points through a convincing definition.