parody

[ par-uh-dee ]

/ ˈpær ə di /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: parody / parodied / parodying 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.

QUIZ

ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?

We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.

Question 1 of 8

Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?

navy

beryl

azure

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of parody

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

synonym study for parody

1, 2. See burlesque.

OTHER WORDS FROM parody

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH parody

burlesque, caricature, cartoon, parody , satire (see synonym study at burlesque)

Words nearby parody

parodic, parodist, parodistic, parodontium, parodos, parody, paroecious, paroicous, parokheth, parol, parole

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

How to use parody in a sentence

When he suggested the phrase, I’d assumed he was planning an “apologies to” parody of the famed illustrations by Sir John Tenniel from the 1865 “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”
Style Conversational Week 1418: Just inkin’ about tomorrow|Pat Myers|January 7, 2021|Washington Post
Meanwhile, a good number of people have been banned from the platform for posting vulgar content, as well as some parody accounts and those that posted pictures of feces.
Parler, the “free speech” social network, explained|Rebecca Heilweil|January 7, 2021|Vox
During Fairbanks’s previous run as the parody hero of contemporary action comedies like “His Picture in the Papers,” fans came to think of him as “Doug,” a tribute to his offhand elegance — like Fred Astaire’s, a triumph of talent and willpower.
Zorro at 100: Why the original swashbuckler is still the quintessential American action hero|Michael Sragow|January 1, 2021|Washington Post
The writers were masters of parody, so much so that it became something of a badge of honor to be so featured.
Hulu brings back that irreverent magic with trailer for Animaniacs reboot|Jennifer Ouellette|October 22, 2020|Ars Technica

At this point, labeling a Democrat a “communist” is almost worthy of parody.
GOP senator falsely claims opponent was endorsed by Communist Party|Glenn Kessler|October 6, 2020|Washington Post
In 2011, the rapper-turned-self parody debuted his first collection, Dw Kanye West.
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s Balmain Campaign: High Fashion Meets Low Culture|Amy Zimmerman|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But then, this show has always been more than just the parody of right-wing cable punditry it was originally made out to be.
The End of Truthiness: Stephen Colbert’s Sublime Finale|Noel Murray|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As part of the writing team on Blazing Saddles, he gave its parody of the Western a sharper political edge.
How Richard Pryor Beat Bill Cosby and Transformed America|David Yaffe, Scott Saul|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As of yesterday, three of their films were nominated for Best Parody at the 2015 AVN Awards.
Inside the Greatest Porn Parody Factory: From ‘Game of Bones’ to ‘The Humper Games’|Gabriella Paiella|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He seems fleshless, bloodless; he might almost be a black man's parody of how a clean-cut white man moves.
The Stacks: Pauline Kael's Talking Heads Obsession|Pauline Kael|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is twice blessed—it blesses him who earns, and those who give, to parody the words of Shakspeare.
Journal of a Voyage to Brazil|Maria Graham
A mockery of a government—a disgrace to the office pretended to be held—a parody on the position assumed.
The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States|Martin R. Delany
As to Moussorgskys music, it may go to the devil for all I care: it is the commonest, lowest parody of music.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky
To equip a dull, respectable person with wings would be but to make a parody of an angel.
The Pocket R.L.S.|Robert Louis Stevenson
With the perfume of the roses into the open window came the stench of this hideous parody, as if in mockery.
A Year in the Fields|John Burroughs

British Dictionary definitions for parody

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 forms of parody

parodic (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

Cultural definitions for parody

parody

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

parody

Origin of parody

synonym study for parody

OTHER WORDS FROM parody

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH parody

Words nearby parody

Words related to parody

How to use parody in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for parody

Derived forms of parody

Word Origin for parody

Cultural definitions for parody