pillory

[pil-uh-ree]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

plural

pillories

a wooden framework erected on a post, with holes for securing the head and hands, formerly used to expose an offender to public derision.

verb (used with object)

pilloried, pillorying

to set in the pillory.
to expose to public derision, ridicule, or abuse.
The candidate mercilessly pilloried his opponent.

pillory

/ ˈ��ɪ��ə��ɪ /

noun

a wooden framework into which offenders were formerly locked by the neck and wrists and exposed to public abuse and ridicule
exposure to public scorn or abuse

verb

to expose to public scorn or ridicule
to punish by putting in a pillory

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Other Word Forms

unpilloried adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of pillory¹

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English pyllory, from Old French pilori, perhaps from Medieval Latin ��ī��ō��ܳ�, equivalent to Latin ��ī��(��) “pillar” ( pile ¹ ) + -ō��ܳ� noun suffix ( -ory ² ), though Romance variants such as Provençal espillori suggest a less transparent source

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Word History and Origins

Origin of pillory¹

C13: from Anglo-Latin pillorium, from Old French pilori, of uncertain origin; related to Provençal espillori

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

If John Kerry had said that, he would have been pilloried for weeks.

From

Our reactions weren’t always positive; she’d often be pilloried for civility breaches that would be heralded as raw free speech if the same words came out of a man’s mouth.

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That didn’t stop the Energy Department from pillorying the findings.

From

He said the EU was being hit by 20% tariffs and the UK's lower rate of 10% was actually a vindication of those who "were pilloried and abused" for backing Brexit.

From

"A staffer had his number on there," said Trump, who has long pilloried reporting by Goldberg going back to the 2020 election.

From

pillock pillow

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