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black comedy

American  

noun

  1. comedy that employs morbid, gloomy, grotesque, or calamitous situations in its plot.


Etymology

Origin of black comedy

First recorded in 1965–70

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.

See Examples For:

Indeed, this isn’t a documentary — a black comedy, perhaps?

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 2, 2026

The Globes also honor the best in television, with HBO's black comedy anthology "The White Lotus," sci-fi office thriller "Severance" and searing teen murder saga "Adolescence" leading the contenders.

From Barron's Jan. 11, 2026

Other nominated films include conspiracy theory drama Bugonia, Korean black comedy No Other Choice, Brazilian political thriller The Secret Agent and animated musical smash Kpop Demon Hunters.

From BBC Jan. 10, 2026

Instead, it has all the hallmarks of both a black comedy comprising carefully crafted scenes and a deft character study made up of painstakingly applied warts-and-all detail.

From The Wall Street Journal Jan. 2, 2026

The head-slapping stupidity of the situation could only be viewed as black comedy.

From Underground by Dreyfus, Suelette

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