skit

American  

[skit] / skɪt /

noun

1. a short literary piece of a humorous or satirical character.

2. a short theatrical sketch or act, usually comical.

3. a gibe or taunt.

4. British Dialect. a joke or prank.

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skit British  

/ skɪt /

noun

1. a brief satirical theatrical sketch

2. a short satirical piece of writing

3. a trick or hoax

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Etymology

Origin of skit

First recorded in 1565–75; of obscure origin

Explanation

A skit is a funny or informative short play. It's usually more fun to perform a skit about an alien invasion than a skit about workplace safety. You might watch a skit about bullying at school, and the local theater troupe may perform skits in the park for kids. In stand-up or improvisational comedy, skits are more commonly called "sketches." Skit comes from the now-obsolete Scottish skit, "a vain, frivolous, or wanton girl," which became "a satirical remark" in English, and then "a piece of light satire."

Example Sentences

“Is this like an ‘SNL’ skit or something?” he asked when nobody made the changes he was looking for.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

Yet the lesson White House adviser Stephen Miller seems to have taken from border success is akin to Christopher Walken’s in the famous SNL skit: “I gotta have more cowbell.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

Consider a skit from the “Key & Peele” show that imagined a situation in which passengers with all sorts of odd statuses gained early boarding privileges.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 21, 2026

Harry played it straight, even to the point of “auditioning” for a Christmas movie in an intentionally bad skit.

From Salon • Dec. 6, 2025

There was a skit in which the Panther mascot moved about ripping up paper tombstones symbolizing Permian’s fallen opponents.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger

Related Words

• parody
• satire
• spoof