Definitions
01humorous imitation
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a book, film, or song that copies a famous style in a funny way to make fun of it.
n. a literary or artistic work that imitates the characteristic style of an author or a work for comic effect or ridicule.
“The movie is a funny parody of old detective films from the 1940s.”
“The comedian performed a biting parody of the prime minister's speech, perfectly capturing his repetitive phrasing and awkward gestures.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'of' to indicate the target of the imitation.
Synonyms
02to mimic for humor
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to copy the way someone speaks or writes to make people laugh at them.
v. to produce a humorously exaggerated imitation of a writer, artist, or genre.
“He likes to parody famous singers by exaggerating their high notes.”
“The novelist managed to parody the dry, academic tone of legal documents while still maintaining a compelling narrative.”
Usage
This is a transitive verb that requires a direct object.
Synonyms
03a proverb
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic
n. an old word for a common saying or a piece of traditional advice.
n. a popular maxim, adage, or proverb.
“The old book was full of parodies and wise sayings from the village.”
“In the seventeenth-century manuscript, the author frequently cites a local parody to justify his moral stance.”
Teaching tip
This sense is obsolete in modern English; learners will almost exclusively encounter 'parody' in the context of humor and satire.
Real-World Examples
“Kaye has built a global following via Instagram and TikTok with videos in which she parodies popular music trends and genres such as K-pop, and chart-topping stars from Taylor Swift to Ed Sheeran.” “Also it’s so old-fashioned in its structure it plays almost like a tongue-in-cheek parody.” Etymology
From Latin parōdia, from Ancient Greek παρῳδία (parōidía, “parody”), from παρά (pará, “besides”) + ᾠδή (ōidḗ, “song”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/parody
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0