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

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

“The way the fourth wall was broken between the play and the audience, the need to reach out and touch the core of the play. Agnes’ compass has always been touch.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 14, 2025

“The breaking of the fourth wall has been great,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 14, 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

“That is the throne room,” Kaisa said, pointing to the closed double doors in the fourth wall.

From "Ash" by Malinda Lo