gallows humor

noun

1. humor that treats serious, frightening, or painful subject matter in a light or satirical way.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gallows humor¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Gallows humor; the fear showed in her voice.

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For local establishments, the newly offered specials are part gallows humor, part business gamble.

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Newsrooms being breeding grounds for gallows humor, most also understand that futility is a terrific comedy catalyst.

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These songs tap into the bottomless well that Mexicans have for gallows humor.

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“I meant it as a bit of gallows humor, but he answered by essentially saying, Actually, sort of,” Gluck, a journalist, writes in his forthcoming memoir, An Exercise in Uncertainty.

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