derision

noun

de·​ri·​sion di-ˈri-zhən 

1

a

: the use of ridicule or scorn to show contempt

b

: a state of being laughed at or ridiculed : a state of being derided

2

: an object of ridicule or scorn

Did you know?

Where does derision come from?

Derision shares part of its origin with the words ridiculous and risible; all may be traced to the Latin verb ridēre (“to laugh”). From the time derision entered the English language in the 14th century, it has suggested laughter, albeit of a mocking or scornful variety. It may also be used to indicate an object of scornful laughter—that is, a laughingstock—as in the line from Lamentations 3:14 of the King James Version of the bible: “I was a derision to all my people.”

Synonyms

• butt
• jest
• joke
• laughingstock
• mark
• mock
• mockery
• sport
• target

Examples of derision in a Sentence

My remarks were anodyne, but some other snippets of marginalia were shrieks of derision … —Paul Theroux, Granta 44, Summer 1993

Britain had its boffins, working researchers subject to the derision of intellectual gentlemen. —James Gleick, Genius: The Life & Science of Richard Feynman, 1992

… discussion, laughter, lecturing, but no shouts or threats, no yardsticks banging for silence, no words of shame or derision. —Lorene Cary, Black Ice, 1991

The whole idea of Camelot excites derision. In fact, I am sure Kennedy would have derided it himself. No one at the time ever thought of his Washington as Camelot. —Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., The Cycles of American History, 1986

One of the students laughed in derision at my error.

The team's awful record has made it an object of derision in the league.

“Nerd” is a term of derision.

Recent Examples on the Web

To watch elite women warriors fold in among special-forces bros without needing help or rescue, or becoming objects of desire, or subjects of derision, or much of anything notable at all besides equals, is borderline radical. —Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2024

Almost immediately, the title became a term of derision, symbolizing the shallow version of feminism sold by the era’s marketing departments. —Nate Jones, Vulture, 20 Aug. 2024

Laughter is the best medicine—for the ones who are doing the laughing—but how about for those who are the objects of derision? —Pratiksha Thangam Menon, JSTOR Daily, 18 Aug. 2023

Instead, Miliband was pressed in TV debates to admit that Labour had overspent, and his denial provoked widespread derision. —Jonathan Hopkin, Foreign Affairs, 18 May 2015

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Late Latin derision-, derisio, from Latin deridēre — see deride

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

derision

noun

de·​ri·​sion di-ˈrizh-ən 

: scornful ridicule

derisive

-ˈrī-siv

adjective

derisively adverb

derisiveness noun

derisory

-ˈrī-sə-rē

-zə-

adjective