Translation guide
A person or thing that is ridiculed or made fun of by others.
To describe someone who is the target of ridicule or mockery.
To describe an object, idea, or event that is mocked.
Works for both people and things. It's the most versatile option for non-person subjects.
Do not translate 'laughingstock' literally as 笑う株 (warau kabu) or similar. The natural Japanese expressions are idiomatic phrases like 笑い者 or 笑いの種.
笑い者 is almost exclusively used for people, while 笑いの種 can be used for both people and things. 笑い者 is more common in spoken Japanese.
He is a laughingstock.
The most common and natural way to say 'laughingstock' when referring to a person. It literally means 'laughing person/thing' and is used in everyday conversation.
He became the laughingstock of the class.
If you do that, you'll become a laughingstock.
Literally 'the seed of laughter', this phrase emphasizes being the source or cause of ridicule. Slightly more literary than 笑い者.
His failure became the laughingstock of the whole town.
Similar to 物笑いの種, meaning 'source of laughter'. Can be used for both people and situations.
His weird hairstyle became a laughingstock.
A more formal and literary expression meaning 'target of ridicule'. Used in writing or formal speech.
His proposal became a laughingstock.
That old car is the laughingstock of the neighborhood.
Also used for things, with a slightly stronger nuance of being the object of widespread ridicule.
That failed product became the laughingstock of the company.
That story is a laughingstock.