parody

1 of 2

noun

par·​o·​dy ˈper-ə-dē 

ˈpa-rə-

plural parodies

1

: a literary or musical work in which the style of an author or work is closely imitated for comic effect or in ridicule

wrote a hilarious parody of a popular song

2

: a feeble or ridiculous imitation

a cheesy parody of a classic western

parodic

pə-ˈrä-dik 

pa-

adjective

parodistic

ˌper-ə-ˈdi-stik 

ˌpa-rə-

adjective

parody

2 of 2

verb

parodied; parodying

transitive verb

1

: to compose a parody on

parody a poem

2

: to imitate in the manner of a parody

Synonyms

Noun

• burlesque
• caricature
• put-on
• rib
• send-up
• spoof
• takeoff
• travesty

Verb

• burlesque
• caricature
• do
• imitate
• mimic
• mock
• send up
• spoof
• travesty

Choose the Right Synonym for parody

caricature, burlesque, parody, travesty mean a comic or grotesque imitation.

caricature implies ludicrous exaggeration of the characteristic features of a subject.

caricatures of politicians in cartoons

burlesque implies mockery especially through giving a serious or lofty subject a frivolous treatment.

a nightclub burlesque of a trial in court

parody applies especially to treatment of a trivial or ludicrous subject in the exactly imitated style of a well-known author or work.

a witty parody of a popular novel

travesty implies that the subject remains unchanged but that the style is extravagant or absurd.

this production is a travesty of the opera

Examples of parody in a Sentence

Noun

He has a talent for writing parodies.

a writer with a talent for parody

Verb

It was easy to parody the book's fancy language.

She parodied her brother's poetry.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In actuality, everything — unbeknownst to him — was ridiculously staged in a pitch-perfect reality TV parody, as comedy improv actors like David Hornsby and pre-Saturday Night Live Kristen Wiig would put Gould smack dab in the middle of absurd situation after absurd situation. —Ew Staff, EW.com, 20 Mar. 2025

For cases relating to works of fiction, parody and satire, courts recognize that the examination must focus on what the publisher intended to convey, the company says. —Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2025

Verb

On platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, creators build personal brands off parodying celebrities and constructing elaborate takedowns of what’s in the mainstream. —Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2025

In response, several unofficial accounts that parodied the National Park Service sprung up, including the Alt National Park Service. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin parodia, from Greek parōidia, from para- + aidein to sing — more at ode

First Known Use

Noun

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1733, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing parody

• self-parody

Kids Definition

parody

noun

par·​o·​dy

ˈpar-əd-ē

plural parodies

1

: a written or musical work in which the style of an author or work is imitated for comic effect

2

: a poor imitation

parodist

-əd-əst

noun

parody verb