# travesty

/ˈtɹævəsti/ (US) · /tɹˈævəstˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/travesty
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a failure of justice or quality

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a situation that is so bad or unfair that it is a joke compared to how things should be.

For teachers: a grotesque or grossly inferior imitation; a situation that represents a complete failure of the standards it is supposed to uphold.

- The trial was a travesty of justice because the judge was not fair.
- Legal scholars argued that the summary judgment was a travesty of justice, as it ignored several key pieces of exculpatory evidence.

Usage: Often used in the fixed phrase 'a travesty of justice'.

### 2. artistic parody

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

a piece of writing or art that copies a serious work in a funny or silly way.

For teachers: a literary or artistic work that ridicules a serious subject by using an incongruous style; a burlesque imitation.

- The play was a travesty of the original Shakespeare story.
- The satirist produced a biting travesty of the epic poem, mocking the hero's supposed virtues through absurd situations.

Teaching tip: In modern usage, this sense is less common than the 'failure of justice' sense; learners should use 'parody' for general humor.

### 3. to mock or imitate badly

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal

to copy something in a way that makes it look silly or bad.

For teachers: to represent in a false or distorted way; to make a travesty of something.

- The comedian travestied the politician's speech to make the audience laugh.
- The documentary was criticized for the way it travestied the historical events it claimed to portray accurately.

Usage: This is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.

## Examples

- The trial was a complete travesty of justice.
- The public outcry was a direct response to the travesty of the new tax laws that favored the wealthy.
- The documentary exposed a travesty of the legal system, where evidence was ignored and witnesses were intimidated to ensure a specific verdict.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.