comedy

American  

[kom-i-dee] / ˈkɒm ɪ di /

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 British  

/ 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 Cultural  

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

Etymology

Origin of comedy

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

Example Sentences

“This is good poaching ground for us,” the first-time winner said in the Globes press room after the show’s comedy series win.

From Los Angeles Times

The outspoken film-maker took aim at the unique way the Golden Globes lump comedies and musicals together as a genre, especially when the films nominated in those categories are neither.

From BBC

It emerged with four wins: best comedy or musical, best director and screenplay for Paul Thomas Anderson, and best supporting actress for Teyana Taylor.

From The Wall Street Journal

You two are like my favourite comedy duo.

From BBC

Australia's Rose Byrne was named best actress in a film musical or comedy for If I Had Legs I'd Kick You, and paid tribute to members of her family.

From BBC

Related Words

• farce
• fun
• humor
• satire
• sitcom