ENGLISH
REFERENCE

dummies

n. plural-only
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈdəmiz// UK //dˈʌmɪz// dum·mies

n. people who are not very smart or who do not know much about a specific subject. It is also used for the life-sized dolls used in car safety tests or for showing clothes in shops.

n. individuals perceived as lacking intelligence or expertise in a particular area. Also refers to anatomical models used for medical training, garment display, or crash testing. Often used in the titles of instructional books to indicate a beginner-level guide.


SIMPLE

This computer manual is written for dummies.

CONTEXTUAL

The researchers used crash test dummies to measure the impact of the collision on the human body.

Synonyms
Usage

As a plural noun referring to people, it is informal and can be mildly offensive; as a technical term for models, it is neutral.

© 2026 English Reference