comedy
Americannoun
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comedies
plural
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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.
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that branch of the drama which concerns itself with this form of composition.
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the comic element of drama, of literature generally, or of life.
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any literary composition dealing with a theme suitable for comedy, or employing the methods of comedy.
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any comic or humorous incident or series of incidents.
- Synonyms:
- banter, pleasantry, humor
noun
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a dramatic or other work of light and amusing character
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the genre of drama represented by works of this type
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(in classical literature) a play in which the main characters and motive triumph over adversity
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the humorous aspect of life or of events
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an amusing event or sequence of events
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humour or comic style
the comedy of Chaplin
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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
Explanation
A comedy is funny business — it can be an amusing play or movie with a happy ending, or something that happened that made you laugh. A comedy tries to entertain through honest depictions of life, unlike burlesque, which aims to please its audience through satire, or farce, which relies on absurdity. Charlie Chaplin observed, “Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot.” In other words (of disputed origin), "Tragedy plus time equals comedy." When you slipped on that banana peel and broke your nose? Tragedy! But once you got better, you realized it was actually kind of funny.
Vocabulary lists containing comedy
Ancient Greece - Introductory
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Literary Genres - Introductory
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Reading: Literature - Literary Genres - Introductory
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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.
See Examples For:
No one understands their audience better than she does, knowing comedy relies as much on observation as on good, old-fashioned slapstick.
From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026
Fielder is famous for excruciatingly awkward deadpan comedy, but Holmes’ parents are there, the family is preparing for an emotional goodbye and he seems to realize almost immediately that he has misjudged the situation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
The actor, best known for portraying Nick Miller on the hit comedy series, is looking to part ways with the four-bedroom, four-bathroom property, which offers approximately 3,153 square feet of living space.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026
Her performance drew criticism from former White House press secretary Jen Psaki, now a TV news host, who compared it to a "Saturday Night Live" comedy sketch.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
He would lose himself in thoughts of her, and plan his next letter, refining the phrases, trying to find comedy in the dullness.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
In some of the studios, company staffers join guest actors and influencers making quick comedies and mini-dramas about domestic life featuring a Reckitt brand.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026
"For a black comedy, the numbers are not bad, but black comedies are small films and this isn't a small film, it's a Tom Cruise movie," Gross wrote.
From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026
Accompanied by her sidekick and netherworld patron King Grimsquawk – a crowned raven-baby holding a scepter – Workman conjures up one of the funniest small-screen comedies that isn’t officially on TV.
From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026
“Hoffa” is very different from the other films that you directed both before and after, which are mostly comedies touched by dark cynicism.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
“Mrs. Baker, if it’s a comedy, it’s supposed to be funny. That’s what comedies are.”
From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
