parody

[ par-uh-dee ]

noun

, plural par·o·dies.

1. a humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing:

   his hilarious parody of Hamlet's soliloquy.

2. the genre of literary composition represented by such imitations.
3. a burlesque imitation of a musical composition.
4. any humorous, satirical, or burlesque imitation, as of a person, event, etc.
5. the use in the 16th century of borrowed material in a musical setting of the Mass parody Mass.
6. 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.

1. to imitate (a composition, author, etc.) for purposes of ridicule or satire.
2. to imitate poorly or feebly; travesty.

parody

/ ˈpærədɪ; pəˈrɒdɪk /

noun

1. a musical, literary, or other composition that mimics the style of another composer, author, etc, in a humorous or satirical way
2. mimicry of someone's individual manner in a humorous or satirical way
3. something so badly done as to seem an intentional mockery; travesty

verb

1. tr to make a parody of

parody

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

Derived Forms

• parodic, adjective
• ˈparodist, noun

Other Words From

• paro·di·a·ble adjective
• self-paro·dy noun plural selfparodies
• un·paro·died adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of parody¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin parōdia, from Greek parōidía “burlesque song or poem”; equivalent to par- + ode + -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of parody¹

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

Synonym Study

See burlesque.

Example Sentences

It inspired a slew of TikTok parodies, souvenir mugs and jokey posts commemorating accomplishments far less impressive than winning the White House.

From Los Angeles Times

The same year, she had a breakthrough part in “Young Frankenstein,” the Mel Brooks parody.

From Los Angeles Times

Between 2019 and 2023, he filed at least 11 of them, including defamation suits against Twitter parody accounts that posed as his cow and his mother.

From Los Angeles Times

Something that wasn’t ironic, it wasn’t satirical, it wasn’t a parody of something.

From Los Angeles Times

Still, the former president was wowed by the audacity of a Bible as merch, seeming to think it was beyond parody.

From Salon

Related Words

• disparage
• exaggerate
• lampoon
• mimic
• mock
• ridicule
• satirize