Standard Lemma guide

banjax

noun · verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK, US: /ˈbæn.d͡ʒæks/
  • UK, US: /bænˈd͡ʒæks/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -æks

1

noun

Meaning 1

A mess or undesirable situation made as a result of incompetence.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Ireland, informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To ruin or destroy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, slang

Examples

  • For quotations using this term, see Citations:banjax.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Unknown, perhaps originally Dublin slang. According to Green’s Dictionary of Slang, may be a euphemism for bollocks.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: ruiner — To ruin or destroy
  • French: détruire — To ruin or destroy
  • German: ruinieren — To ruin or destroy
  • German: zerstören — To ruin or destroy
  • Italian: rovinare — To ruin or destroy
  • Italian: distruggere — To ruin or destroy
  • Tok Pisin: bagarapim — To ruin or destroy