limerick: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “limerick” mean?
A short, humorous five-line poem with a strict rhyme scheme (AABBA) and a distinctive rhythm.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A short, humorous five-line poem with a strict rhyme scheme (AABBA) and a distinctive rhythm.
The term can also refer to the city in Ireland from which the poetic form is popularly believed to have taken its name.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical. The poetic form is equally recognized in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations of light-hearted, often bawdy or nonsensical humour.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK/Irish contexts due to the city association, but the poetic term is equally common.
Grammar
How to Use “limerick” in a Sentence
VERB + limerick (write/compose/recite)ADJ + limerick (dirty/famous/clever)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “limerick” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We decided to limerick the events of the office party.
American English
- He limericked his way through the boring lecture.
adjective
British English
- He had a limerick-esque wit about him.
American English
- The speech had a very limerick quality to it.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in creative industries or team-building contexts.
Academic
Used in literature and poetry studies.
Everyday
Common in social games or as a form of light entertainment.
Technical
Used in prosody (the study of verse) to describe a specific metrical form.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “limerick”
- Misspelling as 'limerick' (correct), 'limerick' (incorrect).
- Confusing it with a haiku or couplet.
- Using incorrect syllable count (the form is anapestic trimeter/dimeter).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, by strong convention. The limerick is defined as a humorous form. A serious five-line poem in that meter would not typically be called a limerick.
The origin is debated. It likely popularised in the 19th century with a song refrain 'Will you come up to Limerick?' The poetic form is not originally from the Irish city, but the name stuck.
Lines 1, 2, and 5 are anapestic trimeter (three metrical feet, da-da-DUM). Lines 3 and 4 are anapestic dimeter (two metrical feet, da-da-DUM).
Yes, though rare and informal. It means 'to compose or speak in the form of a limerick' (e.g., 'He limericked the news').
A short, humorous five-line poem with a strict rhyme scheme (AABBA) and a distinctive rhythm.
Limerick is usually informal, literary in register.
Limerick: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɪm(ə)rɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɪmərɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “as bawdy as a limerick”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
LIMERICK: Lines In Meter, Every Rhyme Intensely Comic & Kooky.
Conceptual Metaphor
HUMOUR IS A PLAYFUL GAME (the form has strict, game-like rules).
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is a defining feature of a limerick?