Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

effigy

/ˈɛfəd͡ʒi/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.81 in modern English

Syllables: ef-fi-gy
IPA: /ˈɛfəd͡ʒi/

16

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

3

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A dummy or other crude representation of a person, group or object that is hated.

noun

A likeness of a person.

Example Sentences

"In England on Bonfire Night, an effigy is often burned."
"tomb effigy"
"All around, terrace by terrace, there went marble lawns well guarded by onyx lions and carved with effigies of all the gods striding amid the symbols of the worlds."
"There are two tombs, each bearing effigies of a knight and his lady. One is 14th century, the other 15th century. The earlier knight wears chain mail and his lady has long, flowing hair. The later knight has plate armour, and his wife wears a wimple."

Etymology

From French effigie, from Latin effigiēs (“likeness, effigy”), from effingō (“represent, portray”).

Origin

Source language: French

Word Breakdown

Root: *dʰeyǵʰ-, effigie, effigiēs

Inflected Forms

effigies (plural)

Derived Forms

effigial effigylike

Phrases

in effigy semi-effigy

Frequently Paired Words

caricature

Synonyms

figure image picture simulacrum

Questions

How do you pronounce effigy?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɛfəd͡ʒi/.
What does effigy mean?: A dummy or other crude representation of a person, group or object that is hated.
Where does effigy come from?: It is traced to French.

How to pronounce effigy

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “effigy”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɛfəd͡ʒi/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “effigy”.
Repeat and practice — Say “effigy” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.