hudibrastic: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very RareLiterary / Academic
Quick answer
What does “hudibrastic” mean?
Mock-heroic.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Mock-heroic; using the rhythm and style of grand, epic poetry to describe trivial, ridiculous, or vulgar subjects, often in octosyllabic couplets.
Of or relating to a style of humorous satire that employs low, burlesque diction and meter to mock serious subjects or high literary style.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. More likely to appear in British literary criticism due to the poem's English origin, but equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Purely literary and historical. Carries connotations of learned, niche literary humor.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both; used almost exclusively in literary scholarship or very erudite discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “hudibrastic” in a Sentence
[adjective] + noun (style, poem, verse, humor)verb + [adjective] (be, become, write in a)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hudibrastic” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The poet's hudibrastic treatment of the political scandal was both clever and cutting.
- He adopted a decidedly hudibrastic metre for his lampoon of the prime minister.
American English
- The article's hudibrastic style made the academic debate seem absurd.
- Her hudibrastic poem about corporate jargon went viral in literary circles.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in literary criticism, history of satire, studies of 17th-century poetry.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
A precise term in prosody and literary genre studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hudibrastic”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hudibrastic”
- Using it as a general term for any satire or parody. Confusing it with 'Heidelberg' or other similar-sounding words.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is exclusively an adjective describing a style or work. There is no verb 'to hudibrastic' or a common noun form.
Only if the novel's humor closely mimics the specific rhythmic and stylistic features of Samuel Butler's 'Hudibras'—short lines, forced rhymes, and a deliberate descent from high to low style. For general humorous novels, 'satirical' or 'parodic' are better choices.
'Mock-epic' is the broader genre (e.g., Pope's 'The Rape of the Lock'). 'Hudibrastic' refers specifically to the coarse, octosyllabic couplet style of 'Hudibras,' a subset of mock-epic/ mock-heroic poetry.
It is a highly specialized literary term referring to a specific 17th-century work and its stylistic imitators. Outside detailed literary analysis, there is little need for such a precise descriptor.
Mock-heroic.
Hudibrastic is usually literary / academic in register.
Hudibrastic: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhjuːdɪˈbrastɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhjuːdɪˈbræstɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in the hudibrastic vein”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HUGE, DRASTIC change to a serious epic poem, making it silly and crude. HU-DI-BRASTIC.
Conceptual Metaphor
HIGH IS SERIOUS; LOW IS HUMOROUS. The style drags high literary form down to a low, comic level.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of 'hudibrastic' verse?