parody

UK: /ˈpærədi/ US: /ˈpærədi/ ,(par′ə dē)

Inflections of 'parody' (n): npl: parodies

Inflections of 'parody' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

parodies

v 3rd person singular

parodying

v pres p

parodied

v past

parodied

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

par•o•dy /ˈpærədi/   n., pl. -dies, v., -died, -dy•ing. 
n. 

1. Literature a humorous imitation of a serious piece of literature, intended to make fun of such writing:
   [countable] a parody of War and Peace.
2. Literature this kind of writing thought of as a style:
   [uncountable] the role of parody in modern literature.
3. any funny imitation, as of a person, show, etc., intended to make fun of its target:
   [countable] The skit was a parody of a popular TV show.
4. a poorly done, weak, worthless, or useless imitation of something:
   [countable] The bill was a parody of an attempt at genuine reform.

v. [~ + object]

5. to imitate (a piece of literature, an author, etc.) for making fun of something:
   to parody horror movies.
6. to imitate in a weak or useless way.

See -par-. Synonyms

See burlesque.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

par•o•dy  (par′ə dē), n., pl. -dies, v., -died, -dy•ing. 
n. 

1. Literature a humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing:
   his hilarious parody of Hamlet's soliloquy.
2. Literature the genre of literary composition represented by such imitations.
3. Music and Dance a burlesque imitation of a musical composition.
4. any humorous, satirical, or burlesque imitation, as of a person, event, etc.
5. Music and Dance 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.

v.t. 

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

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

par′o•di•a•ble, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1, 2. See burlesque. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

parody / ˈpærədɪ/ noun ( -dies)

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

verb ( -dies, -dying, -died)

1. (transitive) to make a parody of

Etymology: 16th Century: via Latin from Greek parōidia satirical poem, from para-¹ + ōidē song

parodic / pəˈrɒdɪk/, paˈrodical adjective

ˈparodist noun