a county in N Munster, in the SW Republic of Ireland. 037 sq. mi. (2,686 sq. km).
its county seat: a seaport at the head of the Shannon estuary.
Angling. a fishhook having a sharp bend below the barb.
a county of SW Republic of Ireland, in N Munster province: consists chiefly of an undulating plain with rich pasture and mountains in the south. County town: Limerick. Pop: 175 304 (2002). Area: 2686 sq km (1037 sq miles)
a port in SW Republic of Ireland, county town of Limerick, at the head of the Shannon estuary. Pop: 86 998 (2002)
What is a limerick? A limerick is a five-line poem that is often humorous. Limericks use the rhyme scheme AABBA, meaning that the first two lines rhyme with each other, and then the next (usually shorter) two lines rhyme with each other, and the last line rhymes with the first two lines. For example:
A limerick has five lines, not nine. Start by rhyming two lines real fine. Then rhyme another two. It’s pretty easy to do. Just don’t forget the punch line.
The limerick is a popular form of poetry that’s generally done just for fun, as opposed to being composed for high artistic value. Many children’s nursery rhymes are formatted as limericks. Limericks are also known for being used as a way to tell very raunchy jokes.1895–1900; after Limerick; allegedly from social gatherings where the group sang “Will you come up to Limerick?” after each set of verses, extemporized in turn by the members of the party
A limerick is a humorous form of poetry that rhymes and has five lines. Many limericks are dirty. When you study literature, you'll probably read some sonnets, sestinas, haiku, and plays written in verse: there might not be much attention given to limericks. That's because limericks are a more popular, non-literary form of poetry: they're mainly humorous and often sexual. A limerick has five lines and follows the rhyme scheme aabba, using what is called anapestic meter (which has to do with syllables). Many limericks involve a man from Nantucket, usually doing something unprintable with a bucket.
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Email your limerick and name to [email protected] by noon Monday, and if we get enough fun ones, we’ll publish a selection to carry us into spring.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 15, 2024
Entrants would write the final line of a limerick to enter into the draw to win a brand new car.
From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2023
If you’re bored of reading this newsletter, you could ask ChatGPT or Bing to summarize the rest of it for you, or to rewrite it as a jaunty limerick.
From New York Times ● Mar. 30, 2023
Angry Dan, from Walthamstow, east London, is known for his vibrant colours and memorable rhymes - writing an original limerick which he paints on each mural.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2022
Maybe she will try writing again, nothing too ambitious, a fun poem in the limerick mode.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
Protesters also blockaded fuel sites in Cork, Limerick and Galway.
From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2026
Christopher received a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Limerick in Ireland as a George J. Mitchell Scholar.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 30, 2026
In Pool 2, Castres stunned Munster 31-29 in Limerick to reach the next round and knock-out the two-time winners.
From Barron's ● Jan. 17, 2026
The juice they produced will be used in a rosé that Limerick Lane Cellars in Healdsburg, Calif., plans to make next year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2025
Mam says she likes the names Kevin and Sean but Bridey says, Ah, no, there’s too many of them in Limerick.
From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt
For those for whom limericks are too long-form, the Empress brings you the third installment of our Loserly version of haiku:
From Washington Post ● Sep. 16, 2021
She liked writing jokes and limericks; then, when she was 14, her mother bought a piano “as a piece of furniture,” Armatrading recalled.
From New York Times ● Jun. 15, 2021
Mr. Bell — in normal times — would accompany his twin 10-year-olds, Samuel and Benjamin, to a special music school near Lincoln Center, connecting with them by playing trivia games and coming up with limericks.
From New York Times ● May 12, 2020
Week 1344, limericks featuring “gr-” words: Lady Liberty Her coppery skin has turned green, Her welcoming lamp is still seen, But her engraved invitation To join this great nation?
From Washington Post ● Jan. 16, 2020
"Well Matilda, I would very much like to hear one of these limericks you say you have written. Could you try to remember one for us?"
From "Matilda" by Roald Dahl
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.
