pillory

[pil-uh-ree]

noun

plural

pillories 

1. a wooden framework erected on a post, with holes for securing the head and hands, formerly used to expose an offender to public derision.

verb (used with object)

pilloried, pillorying 

1. to set in the pillory.

2. to expose to public derision, ridicule, or abuse.

   The candidate mercilessly pilloried his opponent.

pillory

/ ˈpɪlərɪ /

noun

1. a wooden framework into which offenders were formerly locked by the neck and wrists and exposed to public abuse and ridicule

2. exposure to public scorn or abuse

verb

1. to expose to public scorn or ridicule

2. to punish by putting in a pillory

Other Word Forms

• unpilloried adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pillory¹

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English pyllory, from Old French pilori, perhaps from Medieval Latin pīlōrium, equivalent to Latin pīl(a) “pillar” ( pile ¹ ) + -ōrium noun suffix ( -ory ² ), though Romance variants such as Provençal espillori suggest a less transparent source

Word History and Origins

Origin of pillory¹

C13: from Anglo-Latin pillorium, from Old French pilori, of uncertain origin; related to Provençal espillori

Example Sentences

The question now is whether he, as one of the country’s elder statesmen, will boldly stand up in defense of democracy, or let himself be symbolically pilloried — or worse.

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If John Kerry had said that, he would have been pilloried for weeks.

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Our reactions weren’t always positive; she’d often be pilloried for civility breaches that would be heralded as raw free speech if the same words came out of a man’s mouth.

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That didn’t stop the Energy Department from pillorying the findings.

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He said the EU was being hit by 20% tariffs and the UK's lower rate of 10% was actually a vindication of those who "were pilloried and abused" for backing Brexit.

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