black humor

American  

noun

1. a form of humor that regards human suffering as absurd rather than pitiable, or that considers human existence as ironic and pointless but somehow comic.

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Usage

What does black humor mean? Black humor is a kind of comedy that jokes about serious or depressing topics, such as hopelessness, suffering, or death. The black in black humor refers to the dark or depressing subject matter that is central to such comedy. Similar terms are black comedy, dark humor, and gallows humor. Sometimes black comedy is used as a way to point out or reflect on the absurdity of life—or, more specifically, of the dark aspects of life, like death and war. But like other comedy, sometimes it’s just used to get a laugh. Either way, it’s very popular in modern media.

Etymology

Origin of black humor

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

I think Ossie Davis is still saying something powerful to this generation about the unfiltered, unedited Black voice, Black imagination, Black humor, Black genius.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2024

Still others will strike a chord with anyone who experiences the cadences of Black humor as familiar and familial.

From New York Times • Oct. 28, 2022

Black humor sits alongside mordantly cool accounts of battles, wounds, horrors, absurd and tragic turns of luck.

From The Guardian • May 28, 2016

Black humor aside, there is no longer an easy or rational way to conclude the war in the foreseeable future.

From Time Magazine Archive

Black humor also helps: he presented some friends with copies of his new album and a souvenir tuft of his hair, which has been falling out from radiation treatments.

From Time Magazine Archive