pillory

UK: /ˈpɪləri/ US: /ˈpɪləri/ ,(pil′ə rē)

Inflections of 'pillory' (n): npl: pillories

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

pillories

v 3rd person singular

pillorying

v pres p

pilloried

v past

pilloried

v past p

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

pil•lo•ry /ˈpɪləri/   n., pl. -ries, v., -ried, -ry•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. a wooden framework built on a post, with holes for securing the head and hands, formerly used to expose an offender to public humiliation and insults as punishment.

v. [~ + object]

2. to place (someone) in a pillory.
3. to expose to public insults or abuse:
   The press pilloried him for his foolish remark.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pil•lo•ry  (pil′ə rē), n., pl. -ries, v., -ried, -ry•ing. 
n. 

1. a wooden framework erected on a post, with holes for securing the head and hands, formerly used to expose an offender to public derision.

v.t. 

2. to set in the pillory.
3. to expose to public derision, ridicule, or abuse:
   The candidate mercilessly pilloried his opponent.

• Medieval Latin pīlōrium, equivalent. to Latin pīl(a) pillar (see pile¹) + -ōrium -ory², though Romance vars. such as Provencal espillori suggest a less transparent source
• Old French pilori, perh.
• Middle English pyllory 1225–75

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pillory / ˈpɪlərɪ/ noun ( -ries)

1. a wooden framework into which offenders were formerly locked by the neck and wrists and exposed to public abuse and ridicule
2. exposure to public scorn or abuse

verb ( -ries, -rying, -ried)(transitive)

1. to expose to public scorn or ridicule
2. to punish by putting in a pillory

Etymology: 13th Century: from Anglo-Latin pillorium, from Old French pilori, of uncertain origin; related to Provençal espillori