travesty

/ˈtrævəsti/

/ˈtrævɛsti/

Other forms: travestied; travesties; travestying

A travesty is a cheap mockery, usually of something or someone serious, such as a travesty of justice.

In literature, a travesty is a work that humorously and crudely imitates another work or style. But you can also use this word to describe anything that seems to mock, distort, or poorly imitate something else. A travesty of justice, for example, is a court case that makes a mockery of the judicial system — or so you might think, if the verdict isn't in your favor. Travesty comes from the French travesti, meaning "dressed in disguise."

Definitions of travesty

1. noun

   a composition that imitates or misrepresents somebody's style, usually in a humorous way
   synonyms: burlesque, charade, lampoon, mockery, parody, pasquinade, put-on, sendup, spoof, takeoff

   type of:

   caricature, imitation, impersonation

   a representation of a person that is exaggerated for comic effect
2. noun

   a comedy characterized by broad satire and improbable situations
   synonyms: farce, farce comedy

   type of:

   comedy

   light and humorous drama with a happy ending
3. noun

   a distorted, debased, or absurd imitation of something
   type of:

   imitation

   something copied or derived from an original
4. verb

   make a travesty of
   type of:

   burlesque, parody, spoof

   make a parody of