Word of the Day: Travesty

¹trav·es·ty

transitive verb \ˈtra-və-stē\

trav·es·tiedtrav·es·ty·ing

Definition of TRAVESTY

:  to make a travesty of :  parody

Examples of TRAVESTY

1. <this comedy sketch mindlessly travesties the hard work of relief workers around the world>

First Known Use of TRAVESTY

1673

Related to TRAVESTY

Synonyms

burlesque, caricature, do, imitate, mock, parody, send up, spoof, mimic

²travesty

noun

: something that is shocking, upsetting, or ridiculous because it is not what it is supposed to be

plural travesties

Full Definition of TRAVESTY

1:  a burlesque translation or literary or artistic imitation usually grotesquely incongruous in style, treatment, or subject matter

2:  a debased, distorted, or grossly inferior imitation <a travesty of justice>

Examples of TRAVESTY

1. It is a travesty and a tragedy that so many people would be denied the right to vote.
2. The trial was a travesty of justice.

Origin of TRAVESTY

obsolete English travesty disguised, parodied, from French travesti, past participle of travestir to disguise, from Italian travestire, from tra- across (from Latin trans-) + vestire to dress, from Latin — more at vest

First Known Use: 1674

Related to TRAVESTY

Synonyms

caricature, cartoon, farce, joke, parody, sham, mockery

 

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/travesty