musical comedy
Americannoun
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a musical that is light or humorous with a happy or cheerful ending.
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(formerly, especially in reference to works from the first half of the 20th century) musical.
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Also called comedy music. a genre of entertainment that prominently features songs in a comedy routine, such as stand-up comedy, or that is a type of show or album similar to a comedy routine, presented entirely in song.
noun
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a play or film, usually having a light romantic story, that consists of dialogue interspersed with singing and dancing
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such plays and films collectively
Etymology
Origin of musical comedy
First recorded in 1755–65
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mr. Lane’s performance as Miller’s life-baffled Willy Loman indelibly proved that his range as an actor extends well beyond musical comedy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
Marlow, 24, has a background in musical comedy and previously starred in Six The Musical.
From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026
The "mind bogglingly strange" 1973 film attempts to combine "light musical comedy with the world of local government contract procurement processes", says city author Catherine O'Flynn.
From BBC • Nov. 14, 2025
The two met while making the 2012 musical comedy “Rock of Ages.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2025
Wishing she could be the co-adventurer in the fantasy she lit in the first place, introducing me to the magical escape of musical comedy.
From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
