dummy

[ duhm-ee ]

/ ˈdʌm i /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR dummy ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural dum·mies.

a representation or copy of something, as for displaying to indicate appearance: a display of lipstick dummies made of colored plastic.

a representation of a human figure, as for displaying clothes in store windows.

Informal. a stupid person; dolt.

a person who has nothing to say or who takes no active part in affairs.

one put forward to act for others while ostensibly acting for oneself.

Slang.

Older Use: Offensive. a person who lacks the power of speech.
a person who is characteristically and habitually silent.

Bridge.

the declarer's partner, whose hand is exposed and played by the declarer.
the hand of cards so exposed.
a game so played.
an imaginary player represented by an exposed hand that is played by and serves as partner to one of the players.

British. pacifier(def 2).

Printing. sheets folded and made up to show the size, shape, form, sequence, and general style of a contemplated piece of printing.

a rammer for pushing out dents in lead pipe.

Computers. an artificial address, instruction, or other datum fed into a computer only to fulfill prescribed conditions and not affecting operations for solving problems.

Military. a nonexplosive bomb used for practice exercises.

Dentistry. pontic.

adjective

noting or pertaining to an imitation, representation, or copy.

counterfeit; sham; fictitious.

put forward to act for others while ostensibly acting for oneself.

Cards. played with a dummy.

verb (used with object), dum·mied, dum·my·ing.

Printing. to prepare a dummy of (often followed by up): The designer dummied up the book so that they could study the format.

to represent in a dummy (often followed by in): to dummy in an illustration.

Verb Phrases

dummy up, Informal. to keep silent; refuse to answer: If anybody asks you, just dummy up.

Nearby words

dumfries and galloway, dumfriesshire, dumka, dummelhead, dummkopf, dummy, dummy block, dummy head, dummy joint, dummy load, dummy run

Origin of dummy

1590–1600; 1915–20, Americanism for def 20; dumb + -y³

Usage note

See dumb.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for dummy

The 'dummy' was found in the gutter and wiped on the boy's coat, then plugged into the baby's mouth.
The White Peacock|D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence
I had an idea that he wasn't a selector at all, only a 'dummy' for the squatter of the Cobborah run.
Joe Wilson and His Mates|Henry Lawson
The chances are Rock's in the clear with a 'dummy' or else his property is all under cover.
El Diablo|Brayton Norton
I could not see the face, but it was certainly not a 'dummy.'
The Shadow World|Hamlin Garland

Hank calls him 'Dummy,' but I am not sure that he is well named.
Bring Me His Ears|Clarence E. Mulford

British Dictionary definitions for dummy

dummy

/ (ˈdʌmɪ) /

noun plural -mies

a figure representing the human form, used for displaying clothes, in a ventriloquist's act, as a target, etc

a copy or imitation of an object, often lacking some essential feature of the original
(as modifier)a dummy drawer

slang a stupid person; fool

derogatory, slang a person without the power of speech; mute

informal a person who says or does nothing

a person who appears to act for himself while acting on behalf of another
(as modifier)a dummy buyer

military a weighted round without explosives, used in drill and training

bridge

the hand exposed on the table by the declarer's partner and played by the declarer
the declarer's partner

a prototype of a proposed book, indicating the general appearance and dimensions of the finished product
a designer's layout of a page indicating the positions for illustrations, etc

a feigned pass or move in a sport such as football or rugby

British a rubber teat for babies to suck or bite onUS and Canadian equivalent: pacifier

(modifier) counterfeit; sham

(modifier) (of a card game) played with one hand exposed or unplayed

verb -mies, -mying or -mied

to prepare a dummy of (a proposed book, page, etc)

Also: sell someone a dummy sport to use a dummy pass in order to trick (an opponent)

Word Origin for dummy

C16: see dumb, -y ³

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

Word Origin and History for dummy

dummy

1590s, "mute person," from dumb (adj.) + -y (3). Extended by 1845 to "figure representing a person." Used in card games (originally whist) since 1736. Meaning "dolt, blockhead" is from 1796.

Culture definitions for dummy

dummy

In a corporation, one who stands in for a real director or who serves as a nominal director during the organization of the corporation until the stockholders can elect directors.

dummy

noun, plural dum·mies.

adjective

verb (used with object), dum·mied, dum·my·ing.

Verb Phrases

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of dummy

Usage note

Examples from the Web for dummy

British Dictionary definitions for dummy

dummy

noun plural -mies

verb -mies, -mying or -mied

Word Origin for dummy

Word Origin and History for dummy

dummy

Culture definitions for dummy

dummy