lampoon
verb
Did you know?
Lampoon can be a noun or a verb. The noun lampoon (meaning "satire" or, specifically, "a harsh satire usually directed against an individual") was first used in English in the 17th century and may be familiar from the names of humor publications such as The Harvard Lampoon and its now-defunct spinoff National Lampoon. Both the noun and the verb come from the French word lampon, which likely originated from lampons, a form of the verb lamper, meaning "to drink to the bottom." So what is the connection? Lampons! (meaning "Let us guzzle!"—that is, drink greedily) was a frequent refrain in 17th-century French satirical poems.
Examples of lampoon in a Sentence
ABC News, 5 June 2026
Some residents have lampooned the plan, arguing pickleball courts don’t belong at a windy beach.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 3 June 2026
There are few better settings to lampoon celebrity and wealth than the French Riviera and the Cannes Film Festival.
—Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
Appearing to take Will Ferrell’s affectionate lampooning The Story of Fire Saga as a how-to guide, Finland has thrown in everything but the kitchen sink to bring the trophy home for the first time since Lordi in 2006.
—Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for lampoon
Cite this Entry
“Lampoon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lampoon. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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