noun

dummy

DUH-mee

noun

A model or replica of a person or object, used as a stand-in.

"The crash test dummy absorbed the full force of the impact."

(informal) A stupid person, or a mild term of address.

"Watch where you're going, dummy!"

(British) A pacifier; a rubber or plastic nipple given to a baby to suck on.

"The baby wouldn't settle without her dummy."

A fake or non-functional version of something, used for practice, testing, or deception.

"The soldiers trained with dummy grenades before using live ones."

verb

(sports) To fake a pass, kick, or move to deceive an opponent.

"The winger dummied the defender and cut inside."

How to Use Dummy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDepending on context: a mock-up/model, a baby's pacifier (British English), a fake version of an object, or informal slang for a stupid person.

UK vs US

British English uses "dummy" for what American English calls a "pacifier."

Common pairings

crash test dummy dummy run dummy pass

Word Forms

more dummy comparative, dummied past tense, dummies plural, dummies singular, most dummy superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The crash test _____ absorbed the full force of the impact.

Etymology

From "dumb" (originally meaning "silent, unable to speak") plus the suffix "-y" — the "silent" sense extended to anything nonfunctional or lifeless, like a mock-up or a mute stand-in.

Rhymes for dummy

yummy mummy tummy rummy gummy crummy chummy

See all rhymes for dummy →