dummies
|dum-mies|
/ˈdʌmiz/
(dummy)
substitute or imitation
Etymology
'dummy' originates from the adjective 'dumb' (Old English 'dumb') with the suffix '-y' added to form a noun meaning a mute or silent person; later uses extended the sense.
'dummy' changed from the older adjective 'dumb' + '-y' (early modern English) and came to be used as a noun for a mute person or a simpleton; over time it developed senses of 'model/mannequin' and 'substitute/placeholder'.
Initially, it meant 'mute' or 'unable to speak', but over time it evolved to mean 'a foolish person' and then also 'an imitation, model, or placeholder'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural of 'dummy' used informally to mean people who are stupid or behave foolishly.
Those dummies left the keys in the car.
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Noun 2
plural of 'dummy' meaning a model, mannequin or lifelike figure used for testing or display (e.g., crash test dummies).
Crash test dummies help engineers improve car safety.
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Noun 3
plural of 'dummy' meaning placeholders or substitutes used for testing, demonstration, or temporary use (e.g., dummy data, dummy files).
The developer inserted dummies into the database to test the new feature.
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Last updated: 2025/12/25 14:54