farce
n. C / Un. a situation or event that is so disorganized or silly that it is hard to take seriously. It also refers to a type of funny play where characters get into ridiculous situations.
n. a light dramatic work marked by improbable situations and exaggerated characters; by extension, an absurd or hollow event. Often used to describe a process that has lost all credibility.
The trial was a complete farce from start to finish.
The election turned into a farce when several candidates were disqualified just hours before the polls opened.
What began as a serious diplomatic effort quickly devolved into a farce, as neither side was willing to acknowledge the basic facts of the dispute.
Borrowed from Middle French farce (“farce (style of humor); stuffing”) (in the latter sense, via Middle English fars, farsse), from Old French farse, from Medieval Latin farsa, from the feminine perfect passive participle of Latin farciō (“to stuff”). The theatre sense alludes to the pleasant and varied character of certain stuffed food items. Doublet of farse.
From Middle English farcen, from Old French farsir, farcir, from Latin farciō (“to cram, stuff”). Doublet of farse.
Commonly used with the indefinite article ('a farce') when referring to a specific situation.