Pillory – A wooden frame with holes for the head and hands in which offenders were formerly imprisoned and exposed to public abuse

(Pronounced pih-luh-ree)

To remember the definition of the word pillory, use the following mnemonic:

You can't take a pill or reach (pillory) an itch when your head and hands are imprisoned in a wooden frame.

Examples of pillory in a sentence

He was placed in the pillory for the villagers to mock.

People who break the law or rules were placed in a pillory as punishment.

Putting offenders in a pillory allowed for public humiliation to be an accessory to the punishment.