parody
Americannoun
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a humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing.
his hilarious parody of Hamlet's soliloquy.
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the genre of literary composition represented by such imitations.
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a burlesque imitation of a musical composition.
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any humorous, satirical, or burlesque imitation, as of a person, event, etc.
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the use in the 16th century of borrowed material in a musical setting of the Mass parody Mass.
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a poor or feeble imitation or semblance; travesty.
His acting is a parody of his past greatness.
verb (used with object)
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to imitate (a composition, author, etc.) for purposes of ridicule or satire.
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to imitate poorly or feebly; travesty.
noun
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a musical, literary, or other composition that mimics the style of another composer, author, etc, in a humorous or satirical way
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mimicry of someone's individual manner in a humorous or satirical way
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something so badly done as to seem an intentional mockery; travesty
verb
Synonym Usage
See burlesque.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have parodiedperfect
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has parodiedperfect 3rd person singular
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are parodyingprogressive
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am parodyingprogressive 1st person singular
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is parodyingprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been parodyingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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have been parodyingperfect progressive
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parodiessingular 3rd person
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parodyingparticiple
Past
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had parodiedperfect
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had been parodyingperfect progressive
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was parodyingprogressive singular
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were parodyingprogressive plural
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parodiedparticiple
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parodiedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of parody
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin parōdia, from Greek parōidía “burlesque song or poem”; equivalent to par- + ode + -y 3
Explanation
A parody is a humorous or mocking imitation of something, using the same form as the original. To parody a poem, you have to write another poem. A parody is a form of humor that spoofs — or satirizes — something using the same form. For example, shows like "Saturday Night Live" and "The Daily Show" parody newscasts by doing fake newscasts that look like the real thing. Comedians and comedy writers love to parody the President. Anything in the public eye could be the object of a parody.
Vocabulary lists containing parody
Literary Devices & Figures of Speech - Introductory
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Poetry: Literary Devices
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Rhetoric
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
With the Wayans brothers firmly back in the driver’s seat, horror parody “Scary Movie” muscled its way past He-Man for the top spot at the box office this weekend.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2026
The latest examples are almost too on-the-nose to parody.
From Salon • May 18, 2026
Former Strictly contestant Williams is also recognised for his role as the iceberg in another London transfer, musical parody Titaníque.
From BBC • May 5, 2026
He thought they were a hard-rock parody of an early-1960s bubblegum band.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026
For a moment or two the forest and all the other dimly appreciated places echoed with the parody of laughter.
From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
