comedy

[kom-i-dee]

noun

plural

comedies 

1. a play, movie, etc., of light and humorous character with a happy or cheerful ending; a dramatic work in which the central motif is the triumph over adverse circumstance, resulting in a successful or happy conclusion.

2. that branch of the drama which concerns itself with this form of composition.

3. the comic element of drama, of literature generally, or of life.

4. any literary composition dealing with a theme suitable for comedy, or employing the methods of comedy.

5. any comic or humorous incident or series of incidents.

   Synonyms: banter, pleasantry, humor

comedy

/ ˈkɒmɪdɪ /

noun

1. a dramatic or other work of light and amusing character

2. the genre of drama represented by works of this type

3. (in classical literature) a play in which the main characters and motive triumph over adversity

4. the humorous aspect of life or of events

5. an amusing event or sequence of events

6. humour or comic style

   the comedy of Chaplin

comedy

1. A work — play, story, novel, or film — that ends happily for the main character (or protagonist) and contains humor to some degree. A comedy may involve unhappy outcomes for some of the characters. Shylock, for example, in The Merchant of Venice, a comedy by William Shakespeare, is disgraced in the play. The ancient Greeks and Romans produced comedies, and great numbers have been written in modern times.

Other Word Forms

• comedial adjective
• procomedy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of comedy¹

1350–1400; Middle English comedye < Medieval Latin cōmēdia, Latin cōmoedia < Greek kōmōidía, equivalent to kōmōid ( ós ) comedian ( kômo ( s ) merry-making + aoidós singer) + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of comedy¹

C14: from Old French comédie, from Latin cōmoedia, from Greek kōmōidia, from kōmos village festival + aeidein to sing

Example Sentences

His rendition, which often presents the president as a zany stand-up comedian slinging joke after joke, has won wide respect in the comedy world, and anchored SNL’s political takes for the last four seasons.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

It’s a panel show and stand-up comedy competition hosted by Tony Hinchcliffe.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

A week’s cancellation of late-night comedy due to White House outrage is an affront to free speech.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

For Heizer, his training began with one self-appointed task — watching a classic television comedy.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

How did they get you into comedy as a kid?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• farce 
• fun 
• humor 
• satire 
• sitcom