pillory

C2+ Topic:Word Formation & Derivatives

US /ˈpɪləri/ UK /ˈpɪləri/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
a wooden frame for publicly punishing offenders; to expose to public ridicule

The press pilloried the official for his careless remarks.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a wooden frame for publicly... ridicule mock denounce castigate lampoon stigmatize excoriate

Opposites

praise laud extol

Word family

Derived forms pilloried

Simplified etymology

Pillory comes from Old French pilori, which goes back to Latin pila, “pillar.” A pillory consisted of two boards brought together with holes for the head and hands.

Etymology

From Old French pellori, of uncertain origin, possibly from Medieval Latin pilloria; the figurative verb sense 'expose to public ridicule' derives from the punishment device.

pellori Old French

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Word Formation & Derivatives General Vocabulary

External links

# pillory

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈpɪləri/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpɪləri/

## Meanings
1. a wooden frame for publicly punishing offenders; to expose to public ridicule

## Examples
- The press pilloried the official for his careless remarks.

## Synonyms
- ridicule
- mock
- denounce
- castigate
- lampoon
- stigmatize
- excoriate

## Antonyms
- praise
- laud
- extol

## Derived Forms
- pilloried

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: pellori

## Etymology
From Old French pellori, of uncertain origin, possibly from Medieval Latin pilloria; the figurative verb sense 'expose to public ridicule' derives from the punishment device.

## AI Etymology
Pillory is from Old French pellori, of uncertain origin, possibly from Medieval Latin pilloria; the figurative verb sense 'expose to public ridicule' derives from the punishment device. Important recorded forms include pellori (Old French). Its earlier history remains partly uncertain, so the etymological chain is best treated cautiously. In current use it covers a wooden frame for publicly punishing offenders; to expose to public ridicule. The wider family includes derived forms such as pilloried.

## Topics
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- General Vocabulary

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