# caricature

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkɛɹɪkət͡ʃʊɚ/ · frequency rank #22,605

## Definitions
1. A pictorial representation of someone in which distinguishing features are exaggerated for comic effect.
2. A grotesque misrepresentation.
3. In facial recognition systems, a face that has been modified to look less like the average face, and thus more distinctive.

## Etymology
From French caricature, from Italian caricatura. Not related to character, which is instead ultimately from Ancient Greek χαρακτήρ (kharaktḗr, “type, nature, character”).

## Common misspellings (14)
`acricature`, `caircature`, `carciature`, `cariacture`, `caricatrue`, `caricatture`, `caricatuer`, `caricaturre`, `caricautre`, `cariccature`, `carictaure`, `carricature`, `ccaricature`, `craicature`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/caricature