doggerel: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, literary criticism
Quick answer
What does “doggerel” mean?
Badly written, trivial, or irregular verse, often with a clumsy rhythm and trivial subject matter.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Badly written, trivial, or irregular verse, often with a clumsy rhythm and trivial subject matter.
Any form of writing or speech that is crude, amateurish, or lacking in artistic merit, often used pejoratively to dismiss trivial or poorly executed creative work.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The word is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally pejorative in both dialects.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but slightly more likely to be encountered in British literary contexts due to historical usage.
Grammar
How to Use “doggerel” in a Sentence
[Subject] writes/produces doggerel.[Critic] dismissed the poem as doggerel.The [text/verse] is nothing but doggerel.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “doggerel” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The once-talented poet began to doggerel in his later years, much to his critics' delight.
American English
- He doggereled a quick rhyme for the party, but no one was impressed.
adjective
British English
- The doggerel verses were printed in the local newsletter.
American English
- She winced at the doggerel lyrics of the jingle.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Could metaphorically describe a poorly written report or proposal.
Academic
Used in literary criticism and poetry analysis.
Everyday
Very rare. Used by educated speakers discussing art or writing.
Technical
A technical term in prosody and literary studies.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “doggerel”
- Misspelling as 'doggeral' or 'dogrel'.
- Using it as a neutral term for simple poetry.
- Confusing it with 'dogger' (a nautical term).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily no. It is a term for verse. However, it can be used metaphorically to describe exceptionally clumsy or trivial prose.
It is a formal word, most at home in literary criticism. It would sound odd or pretentious in most casual conversations.
It derives from Middle English, likely from the word 'dog', used pejoratively, plus the diminutive suffix '-rel', implying something of low worth.
No, the term is inherently pejorative. Neutral terms would be 'verse', 'rhymes', or 'poetry'. 'Limerick' or 'clerihew' are specific forms that can be doggerel but are not synonyms.
Badly written, trivial, or irregular verse, often with a clumsy rhythm and trivial subject matter.
Doggerel: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdɒɡ(ə)rəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdɔːɡərəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No specific idioms, but often used in the phrase 'sink into doggerel'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a DOG writing a poorly rhymed poem – it would be DOGgerel.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOW QUALITY IS CANINE (derogatory use of 'dog'), ART IS A HIERARCHY (doggerel is at the bottom).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of doggerel?