laughing stock (laughingstock)

Many writers split laughingstock into two words ("laughing stock") or add an unnecessary hyphen ("laughing-stock"). Contemporary usage treats it as a single closed compound: laughingstock.

Quick answer

Write laughingstock as one word. Avoid "laughing stock"; "laughing-stock" is archaic and rarely appropriate.

Modern dictionaries and style guides list the closed form.
Treat it as a noun (countable when referring to multiple targets of ridicule).
When unsure, prefer the single word for clarity.

What the word is

Laughingstock is a fused compound-laughing + stock-that names a person or thing subjected to persistent ridicule.

Part of speech: noun. Plural: laughingstocks (or rephrase to "objects of ridicule").
Use articles and possessives normally: the laughingstock, the mayor's laughingstock.

Spacing: one word, not two

Separating laughing and stock yields a phrase that looks like a mistake in formal writing. Close the compound in most contexts.

Wrong: She became the laughing stock of the conference. →
Right: She became the laughingstock of the conference.
Wrong: Don't call the team a laughing stock. →
Right: Don't call the team a laughingstock.
Tip: If the phrase names a single ridiculed thing or person, join it.

Hyphenation and style

Laughing-stock appears in older texts; modern style guides favor laughingstock. Preserve a hyphen only when reproducing historical spellings or deliberate stylistic choices.

Use the hyphen only to match a quoted source; otherwise, use the closed form.
Standard references show the one-word form for current prose.

Grammar, tone, and real usage

Use laughingstock like other nouns: as subject, object, prepositional object, and in possessives. Because it's pejorative, choose softer wording when the tone matters.

Countable: "The startup became a laughingstock after the failed demo."
Possessive: "The mayor's gaffe made him the city's laughingstock."
Tone tip: In HR or diplomatic contexts, prefer neutral phrases such as "faced criticism" or "an object of ridicule."

Real-world examples you can copy

Each example uses the single-word form and fits the indicated register. Adapt as needed.

Work - email: "If the public figures aren't corrected, our team risks becoming the laughingstock of the division."
Work - presentation: "That test case made the demo a laughingstock in the eyes of our partners; let's remove it."
Work - report: "The poorly timed announcement turned policy implementation into a laughingstock, undermining credibility."
School - essay: "A single error on the poster reduced the group to the laughingstock of the fair."
School - feedback: "You forgot the sources; you might feel like the laughingstock, but corrections are easy."
School - oral: "He feared becoming the laughingstock of the class after mispronouncing the term."
Casual - text: "Relax-one slip doesn't make you the laughingstock of the group."
Casual - social: "After that clip went viral, he became the laughingstock of the thread."
Casual - warning: "Dress code's strict-don't be the laughingstock at the reunion."

Common wrong → right pairs

Quick find-and-replace fixes for proofreading. Spacing and unnecessary hyphens are the usual errors.

Wrong: He's the laughing stock of the office. →
Right: He's the laughingstock of the office.
Wrong: They labeled her a laughing-stock in the headline. →
Right: They labeled her a laughingstock in the headline.
Wrong: After that blunder, the company was a laughing stock. →
Right: After that blunder, the company was a laughingstock.
Wrong: "Laughing Stock" (in running text) →
Right: "laughingstock" (capitalize only at sentence start).
Wrong: They became the laughing stock of the town. →
Right: They became the laughingstocks of the town. Or: They became objects of ridicule in the town.
Wrong (tone): Don't be a laughingstock → Softer: Don't worry-you won't be the object of ridicule; just double-check.

Fix your sentence: editable rewrites

Replace offending forms with polished alternatives. Each rewrite corrects form and offers a tone-appropriate option.

Work (email): Original: "If this goes out, we'll be the laughing stock of the division." →
Rewrite: "If this goes out with those errors, we risk becoming the laughingstock of the division. I recommend holding the release until corrections are made."
Work (presentation): Original: "That demo made us the laughing-stock." →
Rewrite: "That demo harmed our credibility and left the team vulnerable to criticism; let's replace it with the corrected version."
Work (resume): Original: "Led project that was a laughing stock." →
Rewrite: "Led a project that faced public criticism; implemented corrective measures to restore stakeholder confidence."
School (essay): Original: "After the mistake, I was the laughing stock." →
Rewrite: "Following the mistake, I felt like the laughingstock of the class, which taught me to prepare more carefully."
Casual (text): Original: "Don't be the laughing-stock." →
Rewrite: "Don't worry-you won't be the laughingstock. Just double-check and you'll be fine."
Social post apology: Original: "Sorry I was a laughing-stock." →
Rewrite: "Sorry for that post-I recognize it came off poorly and I've taken it down."

Memory trick and quick checklist

Simple steps to stop the error at a glance.

Mnemonic: "One laugh, one stock → laughingstock" (they form a single idea).
Checklist: (1) Read the phrase aloud; (2) If it names one ridiculed thing/person, close the compound; (3) If tone is an issue, use a neutral alternative.
When unsure, check a dictionary or run a brief spell/grammar check.

Similar mistakes to watch for

Use the same quick-check approach: is the phrase a single concept? If so, a closed compound is often correct; consult your style guide when uncertain.

blackmail (one word) - not "black mail" unless you literally mean dark-colored mail.
checkup (noun) vs. check-up - many guides prefer checkup for the noun, but styles vary.
follow-up (noun/adjective) vs. follow up (verb) - follow-up is generally safer for the noun.
heartbreak (one word) - not "heart break" in most uses.
hardworking vs. hard-working - both appear; follow your house style.

FAQ

Is laughingstock one word or two?

One word in modern usage. "Laughing stock" is a common spacing error; "laughing-stock" is archaic.

Can I use laughingstock in formal writing?

Yes. Use the single-word laughingstock in journalism, essays, and reports when describing public ridicule. Avoid using it to attack colleagues or students in sensitive contexts.

How do I pluralize laughingstock?

Pluralize as laughingstocks when referring to multiple targets. Many writers instead use "objects of ridicule" to avoid awkwardness.

Is laughingstock American or British English?

Standard in both American and British English; major dictionaries in both varieties list the closed form.

What's a quick way to stop making this mistake?

Read the phrase aloud-if it names a single idea, close it. Keep a short checklist and consult a dictionary or grammar checker when unsure.

Need a quick check?

If spacing or hyphenation looks uncertain, paste the sentence into a spell/grammar checker or a dictionary lookup. A one-line check catches most visible mistakes.