dummy
C1Informal, with specific technical uses in computing, medicine, and sports.
Definition
Meaning
An imitation, model, or substitute designed to look and possibly function like the real thing, often for practice, safety, or deception.
Used figuratively to describe a person perceived as unintelligent, a silent participant (e.g., in bridge), a placeholder in computing, or a pacifier for a baby (chiefly British English).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The meaning shifts significantly based on context (object vs. person). As an object, it's neutral/technical; applied to a person, it's derogatory.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The 'baby pacifier' meaning is almost exclusively British (UK: 'dummy'; US: 'pacifier', 'binky'). In computing/placeholder contexts, 'dummy' is used in both varieties, though US may prefer 'placeholder' or 'stub'. The derogatory sense for a person is common in both.
Connotations
More strongly associated with 'infant pacifier' in the UK, giving the word a domestic, everyday connotation there that is absent in US usage.
Frequency
Higher overall frequency in UK English due to the pacifier meaning. The 'crash test dummy' sense is equally common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[act as/be/play] a dummy for [sb/sth][use/set up/create] a dummy [to do sth][be/nothing but] a [big/stupid] dummyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “dummy up (AmE slang: to become silent)”
- “sell a dummy (sports: to deceive an opponent with a feint)”
- “dummy spit (AuE/NZE: a tantrum)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a shell company or a placeholder bid used to inflate prices.
Academic
In statistics, a 'dummy variable' representing categorical data (0/1). In linguistics, a 'dummy subject' like 'it' in 'It is raining'.
Everyday
Informal insult for a foolish person ("Don't be such a dummy!"). UK: baby's pacifier.
Technical
In computing, a dummy file or function; in medicine, a placebo; in sports, a feigned pass or move.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The baby wouldn't stop crying until she found her dummy.
- He's just the dummy director; the real decisions are made elsewhere.
American English
- The crash test dummy recorded all the impact data.
- They used a dummy corporation to hide the illegal transactions.
verb
British English
- The footballer brilliantly dummied the defender before scoring.
- (Rare) He just dummied up when the police started asking questions.
American English
- The quarterback dummied a pass and then ran with the ball.
- (Slang) I suggest you dummy up if you don't want more trouble.
adjective
British English
- We carried out a dummy run of the evacuation procedure.
- He made a dummy bid at the auction to drive up the price.
American English
- The website has a dummy page while it's under construction.
- She was given dummy pills as part of the control group.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The shop window has a dummy wearing a red dress.
- Don't be a dummy, it's not safe!
- The bank robber used a dummy gun made of plastic.
- In the experiment, some patients received the real drug, others a dummy pill.
- The statistician created a dummy variable for gender in the regression model.
- The company was a dummy entity used for tax avoidance.
- The barrister accused the witness of being little more than a dummy for the prosecution's narrative.
- The hacker planted a dummy file to mislead the forensic investigation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a ventriloquist's DUMMY - it looks like a person (MUM) but is just a silent (DUMB) copy.
Conceptual Metaphor
LACK OF INTELLIGENCE IS LACK OF HUMANITY (a dummy is a non-human object).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'дурак' for all contexts. The Russian 'манекен' is only for the clothing/model sense. The computing/placeholder meaning is often 'заглушка', 'фиктивный объект'. The baby pacifier has no direct equivalent; it's 'пустышка'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'dummy' in formal writing to mean 'stupid person'. Confusing UK 'dummy' (pacifier) with US usage. Using 'dummy' as a verb outside specific idioms (e.g., 'to dummy a product').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'dummy' MOST likely to be considered a technical term rather than informal?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is derogatory but generally mild, similar to 'idiot' or 'fool'. It's more common in informal, familiar, or childish scolding than in serious adult insults.
Rarely. In specific technical contexts (e.g., 'dummy variable', 'crash test dummy'), it's a neutral descriptor of a necessary substitute or model. In sports ('sell a dummy'), it can imply clever deception.
It originates from the verb 'to dummy' meaning to pacify or silence, as the object silences the crying baby. The term dates back to the late 19th century.
A 'mannequin' is almost exclusively a human model for displaying clothes. A 'dummy' is broader: it can be a mannequin, but also a crash test model, a ventriloquist's puppet, a placeholder object, or a representation of a human form for any practice purpose (e.g., CPR dummy).
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