sitcom
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of sitcom
First recorded in 1960–65; by shortening
Explanation
Sitcom is short for “situation comedy.” It’s a funny TV show with a realistic setting, like an apartment full of wacky roommates or a restaurant where a regular cast of characters cracks jokes from week to week. Sitcoms have been around since people began rolling their eyes at laugh tracks. I Love Lucy (1950’s) was an early sitcom; it was one that featured a married couple who had zany misunderstandings. On 30 Rock (2000’s), the situation was a bunch of oddballs in their office making a TV show. On Barney Miller, (1970’s) the situation was a normal police captain surrounded by weird coworkers. The basic elements of a sitcom stay the same from week to week.
Vocabulary lists containing sitcom
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for November 27–December 3, 2021
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Bob Newhart (1929–2024) Tribute List
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Comedy Lingo
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Columnist Nicole Nguyen revisited the 1960s family sitcom “The Jetsons” to see how close our reality is to some of the show’s fantastical inventions.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026
Getting that recognition required her to portray a chauvinist’s version of a sitcom character that was beneath her on a show about another show.
From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026
The actor added, “I auditioned but didn’t get the part. My dad’s agent sent me out for a role in the TV sitcom ‘Our Man Higgins.’
From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026
The sitcom is played not in italics but in neon.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026
It’s a great picture—she’s a lot younger, her hair is darker, and she’s wearing some kind of a vest that looks like it came out of an ancient sitcom.
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
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.
