Meanings
plural mockeries
- countableuncountableSomething so lacking in necessary qualities as to inspire ridicule; a laughing-stock.
- countableobsoleteuncountableSomething insultingly imitative; an offensively futile action, gesture etc.
- countableuncountableMimicry, imitation, now usually in a derogatory sense; a travesty, a ridiculous simulacrum.
The defendant wasn't allowed to speak at his own trial - it was a mockery of justice.
Synonyms & antonyms
nouna composition that imitates or misrepresents somebody's style, usually in a humorous way
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Medieval Greekμωκός“mocker”
- Middle Frenchmocquerie
- Anglo-Normanmokerie
- Middle Englishmokkery
- Englishmockery
From Middle English mokkery, from Anglo-Norman mokerie, mokery and Middle French mocquerie, moquerie, from moquer, moker (“to mock”) + -erie (“-ery”), perhaps from Medieval Greek μωκός (mōkós, “mocker”), perhaps from Arabic مَكْر (makr, “scheme, plot”). Equivalent to mock + -ery.
More words from Middle English, Anglo-Norman, Middle French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek λάσθη, κατάγελως
- λάσθη (lásthē)action of mocking; ridicule, derision
- κατάγελως (katágelōs)action of mocking; ridicule, derision
- μῶκος (môkos)action of mocking; ridicule, derision
Arabic اِسْتِهْزَاء
- اِسْتِهْزَاء (istihzāʔ)action of mocking; ridicule, derision
Bulgarian подигравка, насмешка
- подигравка (podigravka)action of mocking; ridicule, derision
- насмешка (nasmeška)action of mocking; ridicule, derision
- присмех (prismeh)action of mocking; ridicule, derision
- посмешище (posmešište)something to inspire ridicule
Czech výsměch, zesměšnění
- výsměchaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
- zesměšněníaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
- posměchaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
Esperanto mokado, mokataĵo
- mokadoaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
- mokataĵosomething to inspire ridicule
Finnish iva
- ivaaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
German Verspottung, Verhöhnung
- Verspottungaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
- Verhöhnungaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
- Gespöttsomething to inspire ridicule
- Lachnummersomething to inspire ridicule
- Farceimitation, a travesty, a ridiculous simulacrum
- Posseimitation, a travesty, a ridiculous simulacrum
Greek χλευασμός
- χλευασμός (chlevasmós)action of mocking; ridicule, derision
Hindi उपहास, खिल्ली
- उपहास (uphās)action of mocking; ridicule, derision
- खिल्ली (khillī)action of mocking; ridicule, derision
Hungarian csúfolás, gúnyolás
- csúfolásaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
- gúnyolásaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
Italian derisione, scherno
- derisioneaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
- schernoaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
Latin dērīsiō
- dērīsiōaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
Persian استهزا
- استهزا (estehzâ)action of mocking; ridicule, derision
Polish kpina, szydera
- kpinaaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
- szyderaaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
Portuguese escárnio, zombaria
- escárnioaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
- zombariaaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
Romanian derâdere, batjocură
- derâdereaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
- batjocurăaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
- bășcălieaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
Spanish mote, mofa
- moteaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
- mofaaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
- pitorreoaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
- ludibrioaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
Tagalog uyam
- uyamaction of mocking; ridicule, derision
Welsh gwatwar
- gwatwaraction of mocking; ridicule, derision
Cite this entry
mockery. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mockery
“mockery.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mockery. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mockery,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mockery.
Source: mockery on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.