ludicrous

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈluːdɪkrəs/
• American English: LOO-di-krus

Origin

From Latin "ludicrus" meaning "sportive, playful," derived from "ludus" meaning "game, sport, play"

Meanings

1. So foolish, unreasonable, or out of place as to be amusing; absurd
2. Ridiculous or laughable due to obvious absurdity

Example Sentences

1. The politician's claim that he could solve all the country's problems in a week was simply ludicrous.
2. Her ludicrous outfit, consisting of a tutu and cowboy boots, drew stares from everyone at the formal dinner.
3. The company's ludicrous policy of requiring employees to hop on one foot while entering the building was quickly abandoned.

Related Words

• Forms:
  • Adjective: ludicrous
  • Adverb: ludicrously
  • Noun: ludicrousness
• Synonyms:
  • absurd, ridiculous, preposterous, farcical, laughable, outrageous

Memorization Trick

Think of "Ludi-" (from Latin "ludus" meaning game) + "crazy" = "ludicrous". It's so crazy or absurd that it seems like a silly game or joke.