adjective C1 Advanced Uncommon

ludicrous

LOO-dih-kruhs

Ludicrous (adjective) means So absurd or unreasonable that it's almost funny. Example: “It's ludicrous to expect the report finished by tomorrow morning.”

adjective

So absurd or unreasonable that it's almost funny.

"It's ludicrous to expect the report finished by tomorrow morning."

"The film's plot twists became increasingly ludicrous."

How to use ludicrous

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishRidiculous to the point of being laughable.

Common pairings

ludicrous claim ludicrous idea utterly ludicrous

Word forms

more ludicrous comparative, most ludicrous superlative

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It's _____ to expect the report finished by tomorrow morning.

Etymology

A learned borrowing from Latin ludicrus, "playful" or "sportive," first recorded in English in 1619; it drifted from meaning "playful" to meaning "absurd."

Origin: Latin · First attested 1619

Class of 1619 ludicrous joined the language around 1619.

See the full Class of 1619 →

Rhymes for ludicrous

yous nous pious joyous heinous ominous curious anxious copious tenuous tedious spurious

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Frequently asked questions

What does “ludicrous” mean?

The word “ludicrous” means so absurd or unreasonable that it's almost funny. In plain terms, ridiculous to the point of being laughable.

How do you pronounce “ludicrous”?

“Ludicrous” is pronounced LOO-dih-kruhs (/ˈluː.dɪ.kɹəs/ in IPA).

How do you use “ludicrous” in a sentence?

Here is “ludicrous” used in a sentence: “It's ludicrous to expect the report finished by tomorrow morning.”

What part of speech is “ludicrous”?

“Ludicrous” is an adjective.

Where does the word “ludicrous” come from?

The word “ludicrous” dates back to around 1619 and comes from Latin. A learned borrowing from Latin ludicrus, "playful" or "sportive," first recorded in English in 1619; it drifted from meaning "playful" to meaning "absurd.".

Is “ludicrous” a common word?

“Ludicrous” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.