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Original · left

Mock (ridicule)

Ridiculing, scoffing at, or cruelly imitating someone's speech and mannerisms.

First in use: the 1400s
Duplicate · right

Mock object

A simulated dummy object mimicking the output behaviors of external databases or APIs during unit testing.

First in use: c. 1999

Mock / Mock (ridicule) / Mock object

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Mockery vs. unit tests.

Which meaning of Mock is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Mock (ridicule) came first (the 1400s). Mock object arrived in 1999. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Mock (ridicule)Mock object
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Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

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The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · the 1400s

Mock (ridicule)

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Duplicate · c. 1999

Mock object

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More duplicated terms

Programming & software