The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
n. Pretentious, insincere, or empty language: "I hate ... that air/Of claptrap, which your recent poets prize” ( Byron).
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
n. A contrivance for clapping in theaters.
n. A trick or device to gain applause, especially pretentious but empty rhetoric; humbug.
adj. Contrived for the purpose of making a show, or gaining applause; deceptive; unreal.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
n. A contrivance for clapping in theaters.
n. Figuratively, an artifice or device to elicit applause or gain popularity; deceptive show or pretense.
Designing or designed merely to win approval or catch applause.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
n. pompous or pretentious talk or writing
Word Usage
"For those who believe this claptrap from the likes of Al Gore and his climate change scientific wizards, than go right now and junk your vehicles and walk, move out of your carbon polluting homes and live in a tent or find a cave."