travesty — a false, absurd, or distorted representation of something
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a false, absurd, or distorted representation of something
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈtrævəsti/
Example Sentences
- The cooking show became a travesty when the chef burned everything and ordered pizza instead.
- His attempt at singing was such a travesty that even the dog left the room.
- The election was widely considered a travesty of the democratic process.
travesty
NOUN[/ˈtrævəsti/]
a false, absurd, or distorted representation of something

The rigged trial was a travesty of justice — everyone knew the verdict beforehand.

TRA(change) + VEST(clothes) — changing into a colorful clown VEST in the courtroom turned the serious trial into a complete travesty.

Expecting to see the king's true majesty, the crowd was shocked when his foolish behavior turned the ceremony into a travesty.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From French 'travestir' meaning 'to disguise or change clothes,' derived from Italian 'travestire,' which combines 'trans-' (across) and 'vestire' (to dress). The word came to mean a grotesque misrepresentation or mockery of something.
Breakdown
trans- (across) + vestire (to dress/clothe) = travestir (to disguise) → travesty (a distorted or absurd representation)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The cooking show became a travesty when the chef burned everything and ordered pizza instead.”
“His attempt at singing was such a travesty that even the dog left the room.”
“The election was widely considered a travesty of the democratic process.”
“What they called 'modern art' was just a travesty of real creativity.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.