'ridiculous' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'ridiculus', where the root 'ridere' meant 'to laugh'.

'ridiculus' changed into the French word 'ridicule' and eventually became the modern English word 'ridiculous' via Early Modern English.

Initially it meant 'causing laughter' or 'fit to be laughed at', but over time it evolved into its current common sense of 'absurd' or 'extremely unreasonable'.