Rabelais, François Syllabification: (Rab·e·lais, François)Pronunciation: /ˈrabəˌlā, ˌrabəˈlā/Definition of Rabelais, François (circa 1494–1553), French satirist. His writings are noted for their earthy humor, their parody of medieval learning and literature, and their affirmation of humanist values. Rabelais, François in other Oxford dictionaries Definition of Rabelais, François in the British & World English dictionary