slapstick

[ slap-stik ]
See synonyms for: slapstickslapsticks on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. broad comedy characterized by boisterous action, as the throwing of pies in actors' faces, mugging, and obvious farcical situations and jokes.

  2. a stick or lath used by harlequins, clowns, etc., as in pantomime, for striking other performers, especially a combination of laths that make a loud, clapping noise without hurting the person struck.

adjective
  1. using, or marked by the use of, broad farce and horseplay: a slapstick motion picture.

Origin of slapstick

1
An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900; slap1 + stick1

Words Nearby slapstick

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use slapstick in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for slapstick

slapstick

/ (ˈslæpˌstɪk) /


noun
    • comedy characterized by horseplay and physical action

    • (as modifier): slapstick humour

  1. a flexible pair of paddles bound together at one end, formerly used in pantomime to strike a blow to a person with a loud clapping sound but without injury

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012