derision

[ dih-rizh-uhn ]
See synonyms for derision on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. ridicule; mockery: The inept performance elicited derision from the audience.

  2. an object of ridicule.

Origin of derision

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English derisioun, from Old French derision, from Late Latin dērīsiōn-, stem of dērīsiō, from Latin dērīs(us) “mocked” (past participle of dērīdēre “to mock”; see deride) + -iō -ion

Other words from derision

  • de·ris·i·ble [dih-riz-uh-buhl], /dɪˈrɪz ə bəl/, adjective
  • non·de·ris·i·ble, adjective
  • un·de·ris·i·ble, adjective

Words Nearby derision

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use derision in a sentence

  • The whole crowd shouted in derision, and Jones, in anger, fired every shot in his revolver before they could stop him.

  • Count Romanoff shrugged his shoulders, and a smile of derision and contempt passed over his features.

    The Everlasting Arms | Joseph Hocking
  • At those words of his the men interrogating him laughed in derision, declaring it to be a very elegant excuse.

    The Doctor of Pimlico | William Le Queux
  • Hence this Christian emblem became the object of scoffing and derision by the persecuting heathen.

    The Catacombs of Rome | William Henry Withrow
  • I recalled patches of the bright dreams filling my poor noodle when I was riding to meet her, and I smiled in derision at myself.

    A Virginia Scout | Hugh Pendexter

British Dictionary definitions for derision

derision

/ (dɪˈrɪʒən) /


noun
  1. the act of deriding; mockery; scorn

  2. an object of mockery or scorn

Origin of derision

1
C15: from Late Latin dērīsiō, from Latin dērīsus; see deride

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012