satire
Americannoun
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satires
plural
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the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, to expose, denounce, or deride the folly or corruption of institutions, people, or social structures.
The success of the production stems from its balance of affectionate comedy and well-observed satire.
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a work of art, literature, or entertainment in which the folly and corruption of human beings, institutions, or social structures are exposed, denounced, or ridiculed.
The skit offended only those who didn’t recognize it as a political satire.
Did you notice that all the novels on her bookshelf were satires?
- Synonyms:
- travesty, parody, caricature, burlesque
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a genre of literature, art, or entertainment comprising such works.
The eighteenth century is considered British literature’s golden age of satire.
- Synonyms:
- travesty, parody, caricature, burlesque
noun
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a novel, play, entertainment, etc, in which topical issues, folly, or evil are held up to scorn by means of ridicule and irony
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the genre constituted by such works
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the use of ridicule, irony, etc, to create such an effect
Synonym Usage
See irony 1. Satire, lampoon refer to literary forms in which vices or follies are ridiculed. Satire, the general term, often emphasizes the weakness more than the weak person, and usually implies moral judgment and corrective purpose: Swift's satire of human pettiness and bestiality. Lampoon refers to a form of satire, often political or personal, characterized by the malice or virulence of its attack: lampoons of the leading political figures.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of satire
First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin satira, variant of satura “medley,” perhaps feminine derivative of satur “sated” ( see saturate)
Compare meaning
How does satire compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Satire is a way of making fun of people by using silly or exaggerated language. Politicians are easy targets for satire, especially when they're acting self-righteous or hypocritical. Even though the ridiculous language of satire isn't intended to be taken seriously, well-made satire can use mockery to get at more serious truths. Sometimes satire can even overtake reality: when the television sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live presented a mock debate between Al Gore and George W. Bush during the 2000 presidential campaign season, the satire was so dead-on that it influenced the way people thought of the candidates.
Vocabulary lists containing satire
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Literary Devices & Figures of Speech - 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:
“It’s good-humored without being comedy or satire but opens serious friendly discussions about contemporary problems,” reader Christine Almeida writes of the novel that won the 2021 National Book Award for fiction.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
The man inside the bin is the comedian Jon Harvey, an Oxford graduate who has specialised in satire, writing scripts for BBC comedy shows The Thick of It and Have I Got News For You.
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Grande moves in a similar space, but without the satire to easily delineate the difference between healthy and unhealthy behaviors.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026
The group, which is not a real political party, started out as satire.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
One remedy proposed by the governor seemed like it could have been satire from The Onion, but it was reported by the Associated Press.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
The latter film is one of Keaton’s lesser-known but still brilliantly limned stone-faced satires, in this case involving cowpokes and its star’s tender feelings for a milk cow.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 17, 2025
Unlike most post-“Parasite” satires, “Common Side Effects” encourages its viewers to think about its themes in new and mystifying ways.
From Salon ● Apr. 4, 2025
Frank Rich, known for his work as an executive producer on the Emmy-winning TV satires “Veep” and “Succession,” is executive producing the film adaptation, but in a non-writing capacity, according to the company.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 4, 2023
His 1964 apocalyptic Cold War comedy Dr Strangelove will be staged by Armando Iannucci, who is known for TV political satires The Thick of It and Veep.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2023
But it is remarkable that this extensive body of verse, if a few political satires be excepted, has but one constant theme—the exaltation of love.
From Legends & Romances of Spain by Lewis Spence
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.
