parody

[ par-uh-dee ]

/ ˈpær ə di /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR parody ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural par·o·dies.

a humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing: his hilarious parody of Hamlet's soliloquy.

the genre of literary composition represented by such imitations.

a burlesque imitation of a musical composition.

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

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

a poor or feeble imitation or semblance; travesty: His acting is a parody of his past greatness.

verb (used with object), par·o·died, par·o·dy·ing.

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

to imitate poorly or feebly; travesty.

Nearby words

Origin of parody

1590–1600; < Latin parōdia a parody < Greek parōidía a burlesque song or poem. See par-, ode, -y³

Related formspar·o·di·a·ble, adjectiveself-par·o·dy, noun, plural self·-par·o·dies.un·par·o·died, adjective

Can be confusedburlesque caricature cartoon parody satire (see synonym study at burlesque)

Synonym study

1, 2. See burlesque.

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

Examples from the Web for parodied

[Laughs] Were you ever confronted by any of the people you parodied on Entourage?
Adrian Grenier Talks the Economy, the ‘Entourage’ Movie, and the HBO Series’ Alleged ‘Misogyny’|Marlow Stern|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That was the insanity, precisely, that “Strangelove” parodied, and nobody wants that world to come back.
Obama’s Nuclear Summit Aimed to Stop Terrorists. Now Putin’s the Issue.|Christopher Dickey, Jamie Dettmer, Nadette De Visser|March 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now, pals James Franco and Seth Rogen have parodied the video.
Watch James Franco and Seth Rogen’s Hilarious Parody of Kanye West’s Music Video For 'Bound 2'|Marlow Stern|November 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
[T]hese are morally serious objections that ought not be parodied or dismissed without consideration.
The Morally Serious Arguments from Gun Proponents|Justin Green|December 16, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Due to the air of mystery about him, he also was one of the most parodied dictators ever.
Kim Jong-il Parodies: ‘Team America,’ ‘The Simpsons,’ & More (Video)|Marlow Stern|December 19, 2011|DAILY BEAST
When he parodied the verses of another eminent writer, it was done with more provocation, I believe, and with some merry malice.
Anecdotes of the late Samuel Johnson, LL.D.|Hesther Lynch Piozzi
In this extraordinary composition, even the pater-noster is parodied.
A History of Caricature and Grotesque|Thomas Wright
He was one of the cutest, cleverest little creatures that ever parodied humanity.
Bert Lloyd's Boyhood|J. McDonald Oxley
With this view Cleisthenes of Sicyon put down the worship of Adrastus, and parodied the heroic names of the three tribes.
Studies of the Greek Poets (Vol I of 2)|John Addington Symonds
"It would look like insanity, if it weren't that—that through the letters 'one increasing purpose runs,'" parodied Bertram.
Average Jones|Samuel Hopkins Adams

British Dictionary definitions for parodied

parody

/ (ˈpærədɪ) /

noun plural -dies

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

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

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

verb -dies, -dying or -died

(tr) to make a parody of

Derived Formsparodic (pəˈrɒdɪk) or parodical, adjectiveparodist, noun

Word Origin for parody

C16: via Latin from Greek paroidiā satirical poem, from para- 1 + ōidē song

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 parodied (1 of 2)

parody

c.1745, from parody (n.). Related: Parodied; parodying.

Word Origin and History for parodied (1 of 2)

parody

1590s (first recorded use in English is in Ben Jonson), from or in imitation of Latin parodia "parody," from Greek paroidia "burlesque song or poem," from para- "beside, parallel to" (see para- (1), in this case, "mock-") + oide "song, ode" (see ode). The meaning "poor or feeble imitation" is from 1830. Related: Parodic; parodical.

Culture definitions for parodied

parody

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

parody

noun, plural par·o·dies.

verb (used with object), par·o·died, par·o·dy·ing.

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of parody

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for parodied

British Dictionary definitions for parodied

parody

noun plural -dies

verb -dies, -dying or -died

Word Origin for parody

Word Origin and History for parodied (1 of 2)

parody

Word Origin and History for parodied (1 of 2)

parody

Culture definitions for parodied

parody