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noun

travesty

TRAV-ihs-tee
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Travesty (noun) means a shocking, absurd distortion of something that should be fair or serious — a mockery of what it claims to represent. Example: “Critics called the trial a travesty of justice.”

noun
1
A shocking, absurd distortion of something that should be fair or serious — a mockery of what it claims to represent.
"Critics called the trial a travesty of justice."
"The rushed report was a travesty of proper research."
verb
1
To turn something into a ridiculous or grotesque imitation of itself; to mock by distorting.
"The satirical play travestied the government's handling of the crisis."

How to use travesty

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA travesty is something so badly done or so unfair that it makes a mockery of how things should be — most often heard in the phrase "a travesty of justice."

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "tragedy" — a travesty is about something being made ridiculous or unjust, not simply sad.

Easily confused with
tragedy →
Common pairings
a travesty of justice a complete travesty travesty of a trial
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Word forms

Plural
travesties
Third person singular
travesties
Past tense
travestied
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Critics called the trial a _____ of justice.

Etymology

From French travesti, "disguised" — from Italian travestire, "to dress up" (tra-, "across" + vestire, "to dress"). The same root gives us "vest" and "wear."

Origin: French

Synonyms

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burlesque sendup pasquinade farce mockery parody takeoff lampoon spoof caricature feign

Antonyms

veracity

Related words

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Rhymes for travesty

testy majesty amnesty honesty modesty dishonesty
See all rhymes for travesty →

Frequently asked questions

What does “travesty” mean?
The word “travesty” means a shocking, absurd distortion of something that should be fair or serious — a mockery of what it claims to represent. In plain terms, a travesty is something so badly done or so unfair that it makes a mockery of how things should be — most often heard in the phrase "a travesty of justice.".
How do you pronounce “travesty”?
“Travesty” is pronounced TRAV-ihs-tee (/ˈtɹæv.ɪs.ti/ in IPA).
How do you use “travesty” in a sentence?
Here is “travesty” used in a sentence: “Critics called the trial a travesty of justice.”
What is another word for “travesty”?
Words with a similar meaning to “travesty” include caricature and feign.
What is the opposite of “travesty”?
The opposite of “travesty” — its antonyms — is veracity.
What part of speech is “travesty”?
Depending on how it is used, “travesty” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “travesty” come from?
The word “travesty” comes from French. From French travesti, "disguised" — from Italian travestire, "to dress up" (tra-, "across" + vestire, "to dress"). The same root gives us "vest" and "wear.".
How many meanings does “travesty” have?
“Travesty” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a shocking, absurd distortion of something that should be fair or serious — a mockery of what it claims to represent.

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