noun

limerick

LIHM-rihk

Limerick (noun) means a humorous five-line poem with a bouncing rhythm and an AABBA rhyme scheme. Example: “He wrote a limerick about the office printer.”

noun

A humorous five-line poem with a bouncing rhythm and an AABBA rhyme scheme.

"He wrote a limerick about the office printer."

How to use limerick

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA short, funny, rhyming poem, often a bit rude or silly.

Common pairings

write a limerick a bawdy limerick

Word forms

limericks plural, Limericks plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He wrote a _____ about the office printer.

Etymology

Named after Limerick, a city and county in Ireland, though the exact link to the poetic form is unclear.

Rhymes for limerick

Erick maverick Roderick Frederick Broderick

See all rhymes for limerick →

Frequently asked questions

What does “limerick” mean?

The word “limerick” means a humorous five-line poem with a bouncing rhythm and an AABBA rhyme scheme. In plain terms, a short, funny, rhyming poem, often a bit rude or silly.

How do you pronounce “limerick”?

“Limerick” is pronounced LIHM-rihk (/ˈlɪm(ə)ɹɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “limerick” in a sentence?

Here is “limerick” used in a sentence: “He wrote a limerick about the office printer.”

What part of speech is “limerick”?

“Limerick” is a noun.