Parody
noun /ˈpær.ə.di/ — An imitation of a style or work for comic effect
Definition
A piece of writing, music, or other creative work that imitates the style of another work or genre in an exaggerated way — typically for humorous effect.
Beyond the definition
The tribute that mocks. Parody is impossible without intimacy with the original — you cannot parody what you don't know.
Origin & history
From Greek 'parodia' — 'para' (beside, against) + 'ōdē' (song). A song sung alongside another, distorting it for effect.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
His parody of the genre was so accurate it read almost like sincere admiration.
The parody revealed the original's weaknesses more effectively than any critical essay.
A good parody doesn't destroy its target — it shows you what it looked like from outside.
Synonyms
Antonyms
original, sincere work
Related words
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Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Partner copying the other's style
One adult confidently chooses a coat while their partner copies their posture, looking at the other for social cues.
The exaggerated imitation by the partner parodies the original adult’s style and behavior. It is a humorous, if slightly sharp, repetition that mimics the first figure to draw attention to the artifice of their self-direction.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration