black comedy

noun

1. comedy that employs morbid, gloomy, grotesque, or calamitous situations in its plot.

Word History and Origins

Origin of black comedy¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Now, Plaza is back at Sundance with a hilarious performance as a raging zombie girlfriend in the black comedy Life After Beth.

From The Daily Beast

He steals the show as Hans, a bizarre dog snatcher in this new black comedy.

From The Daily Beast

In this much-maligned black comedy, Lizzie ( Phoebe Cates) suffers from social repression due to years of abuse from her mother.

From The Daily Beast

Up to this point white criticism viewed the stage-setting of the black comedy with the impersonal interest of a box party.

From Project Gutenberg