fourth wall

American  

[fawrth wawl] / ˈfɔrθ ˈwɔl /

noun

1. the imaginary, invisible wall, as across the front of a stage, that separates the world constructed by a play, movie, television show, video game, or literary work from the actual world inhabited by the audience.

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idioms

1. break the fourth wall, to violate the conventional separation between the world of a play, movie, television show, video game, or literary work and the world inhabited by the viewer.

   The actor’s periodic asides to the audience break the fourth wall and elicit much-needed laughs.

Etymology

Origin of fourth wall

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

When she eventually breaks the fourth wall to momentarily make contact with the audience, the timing is unexpected but not at all jarring.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

The other is “Fleabag”: Like Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s acidic reprobate, Ms. Weisz’s character is unconstrained by a fourth wall, sharing with us, reflecting, observing, making wisecracks but not being particularly funny.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

Some of those very special appearances were designed to crack the fourth wall, as when the star’s very famous love or spouse drops by to play against type.

From Salon • Dec. 21, 2025

Judges have a deep aversion to breaking the fourth wall and talking outside the four corners of a case or saying the emperor has no clothes.

From Slate • Nov. 3, 2025

The fourth wall must back on the bedrooms, Milkman thought.

From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison