dummy

[ duhm-ee ]

/ ˈdʌm i /

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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.

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Origin of dummy

1590–1600; 1915–20, Americanismfor def. 20; dumb + -y³

usage note for dummy

See dumb.

Words nearby dummy

Dumfries and Galloway, Dumfriesshire, dumka, dummelhead, dummkopf, dummy, dummy block, dummy head, dummy joint, dummy load, dummy run

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use dummy in a sentence

On Friday, she appeared in court as Ann Marie Miller, again proving herself to be no dummy and decidedly different.
The Mystery Woman Who Tried to Outdo Dillinger|Michael Daly|September 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What did you use as the hammer during that kill scene, and were you just hitting a dummy that spurted blood out?
Game of Thrones’ Kit Harington on Jon Snow’s Heroism and Loss in the Battle of Castle Black|Marlow Stern|June 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Somebody (a monk, I presume) has put a dummy dressed in a guard's uniform inside.
Pablo Escobar’s Private Prison Is Now Run by Monks for Senior Citizens|Jeff Campagna|June 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In a sermon on Sunday, the chair of the North Carolina chapter of the NAACP called Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) "a dummy."
NAACP Attacks Tim Scott|Ben Jacobs|January 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It was a Pakistani agenda, and we played the role of the dummy.
Pakistan’s Sinister Use of Prisoners|Ron Moreau|January 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Fix up a couple of dummy sacks, you know, and get them to camp and packed on the horse without letting them see what's inside.
Raw Gold|Bertrand W. Sinclair
When the first card has been led, dummy's hand is exposed, never before the lead.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various
When a spade declaration has been made by dummy, one trump less is necessary and the doubler need not be on the declarer's left.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various
The highest of a sequence led through dummy will frequently tell the third player that he has a good finesse.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various
The dealer makes the declaration or passes it to his dummy to make by the same rules as in three-handed or dummy bridge.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various

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

Cultural 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

Origin of dummy

usage note for dummy

Words nearby dummy

Words related to dummy

How to use dummy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dummy

Word Origin for dummy

Cultural definitions for dummy