comic
Americanadjective
noun
-
a comedian.
-
comics, comic strips.
-
the comic, the element or quality of comedy in literature, art, drama, etc..
An appreciation of the comic came naturally to her.
adjective
-
of, relating to, characterized by, or characteristic of comedy
-
(prenominal) acting in, writing, or composing comedy
a comic writer
-
humorous; funny
noun
-
a person who is comic, esp a comic actor; comedian
-
a book or magazine containing comic strips
-
(usually plural) comic strips in newspapers, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of comic
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin cōmicus < Greek kōmikós, equivalent to kôm ( os ) a revel + -ikos -ic
Explanation
Comic things have something to do with silliness, like the comic section in the newspaper or a comic scene in your favorite funny movie. Someone who tells jokes professionally is also a comic. If you want to be a comic, you're going to need to come up with a lot of comic material, jokes and stories that make people laugh. If standing up in front of a crowd isn't your thing, but you still want to tell funny tales, you might try drawing a comic strip instead! Comic goes back to the Greek kōmōidia, "amusing spectacle," and its roots, meaning "merrymaking" and "singer or poet."
Vocabulary lists containing comic
List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Week 1 Spelling
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Funny
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
It sounds like a crackpot invention advertised on the back of an old comic book: DIY solar panels you plug into a standard wall outlet to pump electricity into your home.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
It’s perfect casting — Rudd’s singing voice keeps up with his comic chops.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
As a fan of the comic books, you're so used to the character being a kid who's trying to find his way.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
He looked like Bill the Cat in the “Bloom County” comic strip as he stuck out his tongue and made a sound that sounded like “Aack.”
From Salon • May 22, 2026
He was leaning against the rack as he paged through the new Morpho comic.
From "A Monster of a Mystery (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #5)" by Franklin W. Dixon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
