Dummies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A representation of something typically used for instructional purposes, often resembling a human form to facilitate teaching or demonstration
2. Informal term for individuals lacking intelligence or common sense, commonly used in a derogatory context
3. Objects designed to aid in learning or practicing specific skills, like medical training or child education materials

Etymology: "Dummies" is the plural of "dummy", and the noun "dummy" grew out of the adjective "dumb" with the suffix "-y". The root sense is simple: "dumb" meant unable to speak, and a dummy was something that stood in for a real thing without being able to do its job. That is the thread that links a mute mannequin to the objects used in training. The sense that surprises most readers is the pacifier. A baby's dummy, the teat-shaped soother, takes its name from the older idea of a nonfunctional replica, something that looks like the real article but cannot perform its function. The rubber teat was a stand-in for a real nipple, so it earned the same name as the fake, unusable object.

Synonyms: models, figures

Antonyms: experts, masters