¹travesty

transitive verb trav·es·ty \ˈtra-və-stē\

trav·es·tiedtrav·es·ty·ing

Definition of TRAVESTY

: to make a travesty of : parody

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

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

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

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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

Synonym Discussion of TRAVESTY

caricature, burlesque, parody, travesty mean a comic or grotesque imitation. caricature implies ludicrous exaggeration of the characteristic features of a subject <caricatures of politicians in cartoons>. burlesque implies mockery especially through giving a serious or lofty subject a frivolous treatment <a nightclub burlesque of a trial in court>. parody applies especially to treatment of a trivial or ludicrous subject in the exactly imitated style of a well-known author or work <a witty parody of a popular novel>. travesty implies that the subject remains unchanged but that the style is extravagant or absurd <this production is a travesty of the opera>.