lampoon

[ lam-poon ]
See synonyms for lampoon on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a sharp, often virulent satire directed against an individual or institution; a work of literature, art, or the like, ridiculing severely the character or behavior of a person, society, etc.

verb (used with object)
  1. to mock or ridicule in a lampoon: to lampoon important leaders in the government.

Origin of lampoon

1
First recorded in 1635–45; from French lampon, said to be noun use of lampons “let us guzzle” (from a drinking song), imperative of lamper, akin to laper “to lap up,” from Germanic; see lap3

synonym study For lampoon

1. See satire.

Other words from lampoon

  • lam·poon·er, lam·poon·ist, noun
  • lam·poon·er·y, noun
  • un·lam·pooned, adjective

Words Nearby lampoon

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use lampoon in a sentence

  • I called Liszt's article a criticism, but "lampoon" or "libel" would have been a more appropriate designation.

  • lampoon itself would disdain to speak ill of him of whom no man speaks well.

    Obiter Dicta | Augustine Birrell
  • In a few weeks that amusing lampoon on the scholars and commentators of the time had run through four editions.

  • I dined with Mr. Addison, and Jervas the painter, at Addison's country place; and then came home, and writ more to my lampoon.

    The Journal to Stella | Jonathan Swift
  • I have almost finished my lampoon, and will print it for revenge on a certain great person.

    The Journal to Stella | Jonathan Swift

British Dictionary definitions for lampoon

lampoon

/ (læmˈpuːn) /


noun
  1. a satire in prose or verse ridiculing a person, literary work, etc

verb
  1. (tr) to attack or satirize in a lampoon

Origin of lampoon

1
C17: from French lampon, perhaps from lampons let us drink (frequently used as a refrain in poems)

Derived forms of lampoon

  • lampooner or lampoonist, noun
  • lampoonery, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012