laughingstock

noun

laugh·​ing·​stock ˈla-fiŋ-ˌstäk How to pronounce laughingstock (audio)
ˈlä-
: an object of ridicule

Examples of laughingstock in a Sentence

The team has become the laughingstock of the league. The mayor became a laughingstock.
Recent Examples on the Web Under Pikiell, the Scarlet Knights have transformed in recent years from a laughingstock to a legitimate Big Ten conference program. Tim Casey, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 Getting them just from laughingstocks to respectably bad — let alone a winning team again — is going to require a shift in philosophy from the top of the organization. Jared Wyllys, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024 Herzog has become a laughingstock, both within his own party and publicly. Neri Zilber, Foreign Affairs, 23 May 2016 Campbell has turned the Lions from laughingstock into legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Steve Silverman, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for laughingstock 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'laughingstock.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1518, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of laughingstock was circa 1518

Dictionary Entries Near laughingstock

Cite this Entry

“Laughingstock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laughingstock. Accessed 30 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

laughingstock

noun
laugh·​ing·​stock ˈlaf-iŋ-ˌstäk How to pronounce laughingstock (audio)
ˈlȧf-
: a person or thing that is made fun of

More from Merriam-Webster on laughingstock

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