absurdist
Americanadjective
noun
Etymology
Origin of absurdist
Explanation
In philosophy, art, and literature, something absurdist reflects the idea that life is ridiculous. You know you're watching an absurdist play if the characters exchange nonsensical dialogue and seem to forget who they are. People with absurdist philosophical beliefs think life has no real meaning, that life is completely absurd and irrational. Even if your personal philosophy doesn't line up with that idea, you probably appreciate the absurdist nature of certain situations. There's a lot of humor in absurdist literature like Samuel Beckett's play Waiting for Godot, in which two buffoonish men wait around for someone (they're not sure who) to show up. Absurdist has a Latin root that means "out of tune."
Vocabulary lists containing absurdist
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Samuel Beckett’s absurdist masterpiece, Waiting for Godot, tells the story of two friends who gather next to a barren tree, hoping to meet a man who never actually arrives.
From Barron's ● Jun. 1, 2026
Each member has been given licence to express their own personal brand of humour, whether that's parody, musical or absurdist comedy.
From BBC ● May 17, 2026
The existential philosophy of Camus and Sartre, self-evident truths for these absurdist writers, is conveyed less through the content than through the style of their plays.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2026
The adult-targeted block played a major role in mainstreaming anime, launched live-action comedy performers like Eric Andre, Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim, and resurrected old cartoon characters and titles with an absurdist twist.
From Salon ● May 8, 2026
The SantaCon website describes it as “a charitable, nonpolitical, nonsensical Santa Claus convention that happens once a year to fund art & spread absurdist joy.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 15, 2026
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
