- ridicule, contempt, or derision
- a derisive action or comment
- an imitation or pretence, esp a derisive one
- a person or thing that is mocked
- a person, thing, or action that is inadequate or disappointing
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
mock•er•y /ˈmɑkəri/USA pronunciation
n., pl. -er•ies. something done poorly or badly:[countable]The trial was a mockery of justice.
Idioms
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- [uncountable] ridicule;
contempt:a target of mockery.
- make a mockery of, [~ + object] to make (something) seem foolish:The criminal made a mockery of all the attempts to grant him leniency, because he went right out and committed more crimes.
mock•er•y
(mok′ə rē),USA pronunciation n., pl. -er•ies.
- ridicule, contempt, or derision.
- a derisive, imitative action or speech.
- a subject or occasion of derision.
- an imitation, esp. of a ridiculous or unsatisfactory kind.
- a mocking pretense;
travesty:a mockery of justice. - something absurdly or offensively inadequate or unfitting.
- Middle French. See mock, -ery
- late Middle English moquerie 1400–50
- 4. mimicry.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
mockery /ˈmɒkərɪ/ n ( pl -eries)
'mockery' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):