black comedy

American  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of black comedy

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Ms. Cash attends to the family crises with a winning mixture of black comedy and innocent sweetness.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

In the past, when asked about the 1996 black comedy “Fargo,” he would say you can never know when something will resonate with an audience.

From The Wall Street Journal

“It is true that this film is more comedic in nature, but my other films have also had elements of black comedy and dark humor,” says Park.

From Los Angeles Times

At times, “Death by Lightning” plays like a black comedy.

From Los Angeles Times