parody

American  

[par-uh-dee] / ˈpær ə di /

noun

plural

parodies

1. a humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing.

   his hilarious parody of Hamlet's soliloquy.

2. the genre of literary composition represented by such imitations.

3. a burlesque imitation of a musical composition.

4. any humorous, satirical, or burlesque imitation, as of a person, event, etc.

5. the use in the 16th century of borrowed material in a musical setting of the Mass parody Mass.

6. a poor or feeble imitation or semblance; travesty.

   His acting is a parody of his past greatness.

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verb (used with object)

parodied, parodying

1. to imitate (a composition, author, etc.) for purposes of ridicule or satire.

2. to imitate poorly or feebly; travesty.

parody British  

/ ˈpærədɪ, pəˈrɒdɪk /

noun

1. a musical, literary, or other composition that mimics the style of another composer, author, etc, in a humorous or satirical way

2. mimicry of someone's individual manner in a humorous or satirical way

3. something so badly done as to seem an intentional mockery; travesty

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verb

1. (tr) to make a parody of

parody Cultural  

1. In art, music, or literature, a satire that mimics the style of its object.

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Related Words

See burlesque.

Other Word Forms

• parodiable
  adjective
• parodic
  adjective
• parodist
  noun
• self-parody
  noun
• unparodied
  adjective

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.

Example Sentences

Parody, in this case, is the sincerest form of flattery.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

Now a stage reading of the upcoming Willy's Candy Spectacular: A Musical Parody will have its world premiere at the Pleasance King Dome on 9 August.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2024

He later added, "Parody account. It's in my info and header."

From Salon • Nov. 7, 2022

Parody or not, the book insists on revealing the absolute worst of its white characters’ main traits.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 19, 2022

The Parody is not so successful; it has one famous line indeed, which conveys the finest death-bed image I ever met with: "The doctor whisper'd the nurse, and the surgeon knew what he said."

From The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 5 The Letters of Charles and Mary Lamb, 1796-1820 by Lucas, E. V. (Edward Verrall)

Related Words

• burlesque
• caricature
• cartoon
• farce
• irony
• joke
• satire
• skit
• travesty