Parody is a funny imitation of something that exaggerates its most recognizable features. When you create a parody, you copy the style of a book, movie, song, or person in an over-the-top way that makes people laugh while still recognizing what you're imitating.

Think about how “Weird Al” Yankovic takes popular songs and rewrites the lyrics to be silly while keeping the same tune and style. That's parody. Or consider how someone might imitate a teacher's distinctive way of saying “Now, class...” while making it extra dramatic for laughs. They're not trying to fool anyone or be mean; they're highlighting something familiar in a playful, exaggerated way.

A parody usually pokes gentle fun at its target. The movie Spaceballs is a parody of Star Wars, copying the serious space opera style but filling it with jokes and ridiculous situations. Political cartoons often use parody, showing politicians in exaggerated situations that comment on real events.

The key to good parody is knowing your subject well enough to capture what makes it distinctive, then pushing those traits further than normal. It's different from simple mockery because parody requires skill and creativity. When done well, even the target of a parody might laugh at it.

As a verb, to parody something means to create this kind of exaggerated imitation.