parody

1 of 2

noun

par·​o·​dy ˈper-ə-dē 

ˈpa-rə-

plural parodies

1

: a literary or musical work in which the style of an author or work is closely imitated for comic effect or in ridicule

wrote a hilarious parody of a popular song

2

: a feeble or ridiculous imitation

a cheesy parody of a classic western

parodic

pə-ˈrä-dik 

pa-

adjective

parodistic

ˌper-ə-ˈdi-stik 

ˌpa-rə-

adjective

parody

2 of 2

verb

parodied; parodying

transitive verb

1

: to compose a parody on

parody a poem

2

: to imitate in the manner of a parody

Synonyms

Noun

• burlesque
• caricature
• put-on
• rib
• send-up
• spoof
• takeoff
• travesty

Verb

• burlesque
• caricature
• do
• imitate
• mimic
• mock
• send up
• spoof
• travesty

Choose the Right Synonym for parody

caricature, burlesque, parody, travesty mean a comic or grotesque imitation.

caricature implies ludicrous exaggeration of the characteristic features of a subject.

caricatures of politicians in cartoons

burlesque implies mockery especially through giving a serious or lofty subject a frivolous treatment.

a nightclub burlesque of a trial in court

parody applies especially to treatment of a trivial or ludicrous subject in the exactly imitated style of a well-known author or work.

a witty parody of a popular novel

travesty implies that the subject remains unchanged but that the style is extravagant or absurd.

this production is a travesty of the opera

Examples of parody in a Sentence

Noun

He has a talent for writing parodies.

a writer with a talent for parody

Verb

It was easy to parody the book's fancy language.

She parodied her brother's poetry.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

At times sounding like a fanatical parody of the Mann of Reflections, Naphta argues that love of freedom and pleasure is weaker than the desire to obey. —George Packer, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024

The line between parody and true life shifts, sometimes mid-sentence. —Brendan Menapace, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

One, which was later parodied in a famous Chappelle’s Show skit, required the artists to walk more than five miles to fetch him cheesecake from a Brooklyn restaurant. —Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, 15 Oct. 2024

The sketch then shifted to the faux-emotional, parodying the candidates’ inclination to agree with each other during the debate. —Michaela Zee, Variety, 6 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin parodia, from Greek parōidia, from para- + aidein to sing — more at ode

First Known Use

Noun

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1733, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing parody

• self-parody

Kids Definition

parody

noun

par·​o·​dy

ˈpar-əd-ē

plural parodies

1

: a written or musical work in which the style of an author or work is imitated for comic effect

2

: a poor imitation

parodist

-əd-əst

noun

parody verb