English Reference
adjective

ridiculous

adj.
US /ɹɪˈdɪkjəɫəs/ UK /ɹɪdˈɪkjʊləs/ ridicu·lous

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    very silly or stupid in a way that makes you want to laugh.

    deserving of ridicule or mockery due to being absurd, preposterous, or foolish.

    Simple

    It is ridiculous to wear a heavy winter coat at the beach.

    In context

    The proposal was so ridiculous that the board members struggled to maintain their professional composure during the presentation.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    so extreme, large, or strange that it is hard to believe.

    astonishingly extreme or unbelievable in degree, often used to describe prices, amounts, or situations.

    Simple

    The price of a coffee at the airport was absolutely ridiculous.

    In context

    The amount of paperwork required for a simple travel visa has become ridiculous over the last few years.

    Usage

    Often preceded by intensifiers like 'absolutely' or 'completely' to emphasize the degree of disbelief.

Devlin's night ended with a deserved red card for a ridiculous and entirely needless lunge that fried the brain.

BBC News· 20 Aug 2026

Frankie died at home in January, and at first she felt "ridiculous for making such a fuss".

BBC News· 15 Aug 2026

Borrowed from Latin rīdiculus (“laughable, ridiculous”); Equivalent to ridicule + -ous.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated