dummy

verb

dummied; dummying

transitive verb

publishing

: to make a dummy (see dummy entry 1 sense 5) of (something, such as a publication)

—often used with up

dummied up the front page

Examples of dummy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Osula repeatedly got the better of his opposing centre-backs, most notably dummying Oliver Boscagli on the halfway line before sprinting into the box and shooting wide. —Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 4 May 2026

Joveljic dummied Afrifa’s cutback pass, leaving the ball for the on-running Berg Johnsen. —Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 15 Mar. 2026

Adding plastic coyote dummies to ride on the platforms provided them with the right balance of cute and alarming at a total cost of about US$3,000 each. —New Atlas, 9 July 2025

The fullback dummied to beat several defenders before offloading to speedster Paula Balekana, who scored the first five-pointer. —Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

1912, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing dummy

• crash test dummy
• dummy pill
• dummy run
• dummy up
• dummy variable

Rhymes for dummy

• chummy
• crummy
• gummy
• mummy
• ramie
• rummy
• tummy
• yummy

Kids Definition

dummy

1 of 2 noun

dum·​my ˈdəm-ē 

plural dummies

1

: a person who lacks or seems to lack the power of speech

2

: a stupid person

3

: an imitation used as a substitute for something: as

a

: mannequin sense 2

b

: a large puppet usually having movable features (as mouth and arms) controlled by a ventriloquist

4

a

: the bridge hand of the partner of the player who wins the bid that is placed face up and played by the bid winner

b

: a bridge player whose hand is a dummy

dummy

2 of 2 adjective

1

: having the appearance of being real but lacking ability to function

dummy hinges for ornament

2

: existing in name only : fictitious

a dummy corporation

Medical Definition

dummy

1 of 2 noun

dum·​my ˈdəm-ē 

plural dummies

1

: a horse lacking the ability to respond to ordinary stimuli because of cerebral damage especially following encephalomyelitis

2

: pontic

3

: placebo

dummy

2 of 2 adjective

: being a placebo

those who unknowingly receive a dummy pill instead of the real thing

—Nicholas Wade