comic

American  

[kom-ik] / ˈkɒm ɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by comedy.

   comic opera.

2. of or relating to a person who acts in or writes comedy.

   a comic actor; a comic dramatist.

3. of, relating to, or characteristic of comedy.

   comic situations; a comic sense.

4. provoking laughter; humorous; funny; laughable.

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noun

1. a comedian.

2. comic book.

3. comics, comic strips.

4. the comic, the element or quality of comedy in literature, art, drama, etc..

   An appreciation of the comic came naturally to her.

comic British  

/ ˈkɒmɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, characterized by, or characteristic of comedy

2. (prenominal) acting in, writing, or composing comedy

   a comic writer

3. humorous; funny

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noun

1. a person who is comic, esp a comic actor; comedian

2. a book or magazine containing comic strips

3. (usually plural) comic strips in newspapers, etc

Other Word Forms

• noncomic adjective
• quasi-comic adjective
• semicomic adjective
• uncomic adjective

Etymology

Origin of comic

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin cōmicus < Greek kōmikós, equivalent to kôm ( os ) a revel + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

Millions of families attend festivals and fairs, from huge events like Coachella to niche ones like Renaissance fairs, comic conferences and, yes, the same local county fairs that were popular back in the Early Republic.

From The Wall Street Journal

Once a stray, Socks became the star of several books and was often featured by the UK cartoonist Steve Bell in his daily comic strips.

From Barron's

The 22-year-old Master's student said the UK Pun Championships show, which was hosted by comedian Jason Byrne and involved comics competing in a boxing ring, was the biggest of his career so far.

From BBC

In these images Sellers—a comic giant at the height of his career—acts as an eager paparazzo chasing after the self-assured ingénue.

From The Wall Street Journal

The link between comic books and Jewish creators is not difficult to fathom, and it has been covered extensively in nonfiction as well as in Michael Chabon’s 2000 novel “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• clown
• comedian
• humorist
• stooge