plural dummies
1
chiefly US, informal
: a stupid person
He's no dummy. [=fool]
She loves you, you dummy.
2
: a doll that is shaped like and is as large as a person
a tailor's/dressmaker's dummy
They practiced CPR on a dummy.
a crash test dummy [=a life-size model of a person used in tests to see what happens to people when a car gets in an accident]
3
: a copy of a finished object that is used during practice or training
The bomb was just a dummy.
4
: a large doll with a movable mouth that is used by a performer
a ventriloquist's dummy
5
: the set of cards in a game of bridge that are played faceup so everyone can see them
6
British
: pacifier
always used before a noun
: looking real but not functioning or able to be used
They took apart a dummy bomb.
a dummy corporation [=a corporation that is not real]
a dummy pill [=placebo]
Cite this Entry
“Dummy.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/dummy. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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