musical comedy

American  

[myoo-zi-kuhl kom-i-dee] / ˈmju zɪ kəl ˈkɒm ɪ di /

noun

1. a musical that is light or humorous with a happy or cheerful ending.

2. (formerly, especially in reference to works from the first half of the 20th century) musical.

3. Also called comedy music. a genre of entertainment that prominently features songs in a comedy routine, such as stand-up comedy, or that is a type of show or album similar to a comedy routine, presented entirely in song.

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musical comedy British  

noun

1. a play or film, usually having a light romantic story, that consists of dialogue interspersed with singing and dancing

2. such plays and films collectively

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musical comedy Cultural  

1. A play or film that highlights song and dance. Oklahoma!, My Fair Lady, A Chorus Line, and The Producers are well-known musical comedies.

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Etymology

Origin of musical comedy

First recorded in 1755–65

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

musical comedy

Parton re-recorded I Will Always Love You in 1982 for her starring role in the musical comedy film, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

The 56-year-old, who shot to prominence in 1991 musical comedy film The Commitments, was long-time frontman of acclaimed rock band The Frames.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

Take “Operation Mincemeat,” a hit World War II musical comedy, which began with a modest government grant and ran in several small theaters before its lengthy sold-out West End run.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026

There’s a tension between the update’s good intentions and the tendency of musical comedy to traffic in amusing caricatures.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026

In 1921, Eubie Blake’s Shuffle Along became the first musical comedy written by African-Americans and starring African- Americans to run successfully on Broadway.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

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