Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense parodies, present participle parodying, past tense, past participle parodied
1. variable noun
A parody is a humorous piece of writing, drama, or music which imitates the style of a well-known person or represents a familiar situation in an exaggerated way.
'The Scarlet Capsule' was a parody of the popular 1959 TV series 'The QuatermassExperiment'. [+ of]
Throughout the Twenties, Lardner tried in vain to write a hit song, so at last heturned to parody.
2. verb
When someone parodies a particular work, thing, or person, they imitate it in an amusing or exaggerated way.
...a sketch parodying the British class system. [VERB noun]
Any style can be parodied. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: take off [informal], mimic, caricature, send up [British, informal] More Synonyms of parody
3. countable noun
When you say that something is a parodyof a particular thing, you are criticizing it because you think it is a very poor example or bad imitation of that thing.
[disapproval]
The first trial was a parody of justice. [+ of]
Synonyms: travesty, farce, caricature, mockery More Synonyms of parody
More Synonyms of parody
parody in British English
(ˈpærədɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-dies
1.
a musical, literary, or other composition that mimics the style of another composer, author, etc, in a humorous or satirical way
2.
mimicry of someone's individual manner in a humorous or satirical way
3.
something so badly done as to seem an intentional mockery; travesty
verbWord forms: -dies, -dying or -died
4. (transitive)
to make a parody of
Derived forms
parodic (pəˈrɒdɪk) or parodical (paˈrodical)
adjective
parodist (ˈparodist)
noun
Word origin
C16: via Latin from Greek parōidia satirical poem, from para-1 + ōidē song
parody in American English
(ˈpærədi)
nounWord forms: pluralˈparodies
1.
a.
a literary or musical work imitating the characteristic style of some other work or of a writer or composer in a satirical or humorous way, usually by applying it to an inappropriate subject
b.
the art of writing such works
2.
a poor or weak imitation
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈparodied or ˈparodying
3.
to make a parody of
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈcaricature
Derived forms
parodic (paˈrodic) (pəˈrɑdɪk)
adjective or paˈrodical
Word origin
Fr parodie < L parodia < Gr parōidia, burlesque song < para-, beside (see para-1) + ōidē, song (see ode)
Examples of 'parody' in a sentence
parody
It also includes some brilliant parodies.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is an original work, a parody.
The Sun (2016)
His songs have pushed parody to the limit.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
These parodies work best as quick hits.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He had become a grotesque parody of himself and the gallery at last began to avert its eyes.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Your presenting style is often parodied.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Dull dramas and period parody have always done well on a Sunday night.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Some things are beyond parody.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I didn't want to be some grotesque parody of womanhood.
The Sun (2009)
On the contrary, it is a grotesque, undignified parody.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Amazing, but it's so overdone here as to seem like parody.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Because this movie is more than just a parody of that series, and it's also ridiculously funny.
The Sun (2010)
A grotesque parody Perhaps that's fine.
The Sun (2014)
In other languages
parody
British English: parody NOUN
A parody is a humorous piece of writing, drama, or music which imitates the style of a well-known person or represents a familiar situation in an exaggerated way.
The school show was a parody of the popular movie.
American English: parody
Brazilian Portuguese: paródia
Chinese: 滑稽模仿作品 >指文章、戏剧、音乐作品的滑稽模仿作
European Spanish: parodia
French: parodie
German: Parodie
Italian: parodia
Japanese: パロディ
Korean: 패러디
European Portuguese: paródia
Latin American Spanish: parodia
British English: parody VERB
When someone parodies a particular work, thing, or person, they imitate it in an amusing or exaggerated way.
...a sketch parodying the views of the politician.
American English: parody
Brazilian Portuguese: parodiar
Chinese: 滑稽模仿 >指文章、戏剧、音乐作品的滑稽模仿作
European Spanish: parodiar
French: parodier
German: parodieren
Italian: parodiare
Japanese: パロディ化する
Korean: 패러디하다
European Portuguese: parodiar
Latin American Spanish: parodiar
1 (noun)
Definition
a piece of music or literature that mimics the style of another composer or author in a humorous way
a parody of a well-known soap opera
Synonyms
takeoff (informal)
an inspired takeoff of the two sisters
imitation
I could do a pretty good imitation of him.
satire
a sharp satire on the American political process
caricature
a chalk-drawn caricature of a pop-eyed judge brandishing a gavel
send-up (British, informal)
a classic send-up of sixties rock
spoof (informal)
a spoof on Hollywood life
lampoon
his scathing lampoons of consumer culture
skit
clever skits on popular songs
burlesque
The book read like a black comic burlesque.
piss-take (informal)
2 (noun)
Definition
something done so badly that it seems like an intentional mockery
His trial was a parody of justice.
Synonyms
travesty
If he couldn't prepare his case properly the trial would be a travesty.
farce
The election was a farce, as only 22% of voters cast their ballots.
caricature
mockery
apology for
(verb)
Definition
to make a parody of
It was easy to parody his rather pompous manner of speaking.
Synonyms
take off (informal)
mimic
She could mimic anybody, reducing her friends to helpless laughter.
caricature
Her political career has been caricatured in the newspapers.
send up (British, informal)
spoof (informal)
travesty
lampoon
He was lampooned for his short stature and political views.
poke fun at
burlesque
take the piss out of (taboo, slang)
satirize
The newspaper satirized our political leaders.
do a takeoff of (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of burlesque
Definition
an artistic work, esp. literary or dramatic, satirizing a subject by caricaturing it
The book read like a black comic burlesque.
Synonyms
parody,
mockery,
satire,
caricature,
send-up (British, informal),
spoof (informal),
travesty,
takeoff (informal)
in the sense of burlesque
Synonyms
satirize,
take off (informal),
mock,
exaggerate,
ridicule,
imitate,
ape,
parody,
caricature,
send up (British, informal),
spoof (informal),
make fun of,
travesty,
lampoon,
take the piss out of (taboo, slang),
make a monkey out of
in the sense of caricature
Definition
a description or explanation of something that is so exaggerated or over-simplified that it is difficult to take seriously
a chalk-drawn caricature of a pop-eyed judge brandishing a gavel
Synonyms
parody,
cartoon,
distortion,
satire,
send-up (British, informal),
travesty,
takeoff (informal),
lampoon,
burlesque,
mimicry,
farce,
pasquinade
Nearby words of
parody
parochial
parochialism
parodist
parody
paroxysm
parrot
parrot-fashion
Synonyms of 'parody'
parody
Explore 'parody' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of caricature
Definition
to make a caricature of
Her political career has been caricatured in the newspapers.
Synonyms
parody,
take off (informal),
mock,
distort,
ridicule,
mimic,
send up (British, informal),
lampoon,
burlesque,
satirize
in the sense of farce
Definition
a ludicrous situation
The election was a farce, as only 22% of voters cast their ballots.
Synonyms
mockery,
joke,
nonsense,
parody,
shambles,
sham,
absurdity,
malarkey,
travesty,
ridiculousness
in the sense of imitation
Definition
an instance of imitating someone
I could do a pretty good imitation of him.
Synonyms
impression,
parody,
mockery,
takeoff (informal),
impersonation
in the sense of lampoon
Definition
a piece of writing ridiculing a person
his scathing lampoons of consumer culture
Synonyms
satire,
parody,
caricature,
send-up (British, informal),
takeoff (informal),
skit,
squib,
burlesque,
pasquinade,
piss-take (informal)
in the sense of lampoon
Definition
to ridicule and criticize (someone) in a lampoon
He was lampooned for his short stature and political views.
Synonyms
ridicule,
mock,
mimic,
parody,
caricature,
send up (British, informal),
take off (informal),
make fun of,
squib,
burlesque,
satirize,
pasquinade,
take the piss (out of) (informal)
in the sense of mimic
Definition
to imitate a person or a way of acting or speaking, esp. to entertain or make fun of
She could mimic anybody, reducing her friends to helpless laughter.
Synonyms
imitate,
do (informal),
take off (informal),
ape,
parody,
caricature,
impersonate
in the sense of satire
Definition
a play, novel, or poem containing satire
a sharp satire on the American political process
Synonyms
parody,
mockery,
caricature,
send-up (British, informal),
spoof (informal),
travesty,
takeoff (informal),
lampoon,
skit,
burlesque
in the sense of satirize
Definition
to ridicule (a person or thing) by means of satire
The newspaper satirized our political leaders.
Synonyms
ridicule,
parody,
send up (British, informal),
take off (informal),
criticize,
deride,
travesty,
pillory,
lampoon,
burlesque,
diss (slang),
hold up to ridicule
in the sense of send-up
Definition
a parody or imitation
a classic send-up of sixties rock
Synonyms
parody,
take-off (informal),
satire,
mockery,
spoof (informal),
imitation,
skit,
mickey-take (informal)
in the sense of skit
Definition
a short funny or satirical sketch
clever skits on popular songs
Synonyms
parody,
spoof (informal),
travesty,
takeoff (informal),
burlesque,
turn,
sketch
Additional synonyms
in the sense of spoof
Definition
an imitation of a film, TV programme, etc., that exaggerates in an amusing way the most memorable features of the original