opéra bouffe

[ op-er-uh-boof, op-ruh; French aw-pey-ra-boof ]

/ ˈɒp ər ə ˈbuf, ˈɒp rə; French ɔ peɪ ra ˈbuf /

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noun, plural o·pé·ra bouffes, o·pé·ras bouffe, French o·pé·ras bouffes

[aw-pey-ra-boof]. /ɔ peɪ ra ˈbuf/.

a comic opera, especially of farcical character.

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Origin of opéra bouffe

Borrowed into English from French around 1865–70

Words nearby opéra bouffe

open with, openwork, OPer., opera, operable, opéra bouffe, opera buffa, opera cloak, opéra comique, opera glasses, operagoer

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use opéra bouffe in a sentence

Then why demand of Ailes that his opera bouffe company treat you as anything other than an interloper?
How Fox News Outsmarted the White House|John Batchelor|October 14, 2009|DAILY BEAST
This score, the first comic work I ever did, is in a light and easy style which savours of the Italian opera-bouffe.
Autobiographical Reminiscences with Family Letters and Notes on Music|Charles Gounod
Altogether this opera bouffe hotel is neither bad nor good, and most confusing as to its personnel and their conduct.
Italian Highways and Byways from a Motor Car|Francis Miltoun
An opera is a musical drama, the higher forms of which are known as grand opera, and the lower or farcical forms as opera bouffe.
Elementary Guide to Literary Criticism|F. V. N. Painter

What is the difference between grand opera and opera bouffe?
Elementary Guide to Literary Criticism|F. V. N. Painter
Opera-bouffe and Gilbert and Sullivan are preferred to everything else.
Town Life in Australia|R. E. N. (Richard) Twopeny

British Dictionary definitions for opéra bouffe

opéra bouffe

/ (ˈɒpərə ˈbuːf, French ɔpera buf) /

noun plural opéras bouffes (French ɔpera buf)

a type of light or satirical opera common in France during the 19th century

Word Origin for opéra bouffe

from French: comic opera

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012