romantic comedy

noun

1. a light and humorous movie, play, etc., whose central plot is a happy love story.
2. a genre of comedy represented by such works.

Word History and Origins

Origin of romantic comedy¹

First recorded in 1740–50

Example Sentences

Growing up, she loved romantic comedies like You’ve Got Mail, 10 Things I Hate About You and 13 Going on 30.

From Time

A trope in romantic comedies is that storybook ending where every end is tied up in a bow and it feels great because they lived happily ever after.

From Time

This comedy-superhero-adventure hybrid is at its best when it tosses the formula completely and gives in to the idea that a superhero movie can really be anything, even a romantic comedy.

From Time

Sure, we had 2018’s “Love Simon,” but that was more a less a teen romantic comedy.

From Washington Blade

This might not be especially important if you’re watching a romantic comedy, but if you’re listening to music or gaming, it’s pretty essential.

From Popular-Science

But she still wants to make the point that it is still a romantic comedy, in the way that the definition of that term is evolving.

From The Daily Beast

Rafi and Dirty Randy is basically an insane romantic comedy for two male characters on television.

From The Daily Beast

After decades of too-cute, formulaic romantic comedy pairings in movies and TV, their behavior seems downright revolutionary.

From The Daily Beast

What do you think the state of the romantic comedy is these days?

From The Daily Beast

The filmmaker behind classics like The Princess Bride and When Harry Met Sally is back with the romantic comedy And So It Goes.

From The Daily Beast

If there is any fundamental difference between "romantic comedy" and "romance," what is it?

From Project Gutenberg

It is a revenge play with a ghost, combining Senecan gruesomeness with the motives of romantic comedy.

From Project Gutenberg

To these should perhaps be added romantic comedy with its idealized love story and its element of averted tragedy.

From Project Gutenberg

Both romantic comedy and chronicle history had their hey-day during the dozen years that he was devoting to those species.

From Project Gutenberg

The distinctions between tragedy, comedy, tragicomedy, and romantic comedy often become barely discernible.

From Project Gutenberg