slapstick

American  

[slap-stik] / ˈslæpˌstɪk /

noun

1. broad comedy characterized by boisterous action, as the throwing of pies in actors' faces, mugging, and obvious farcical situations and jokes.

2. a stick or lath used by harlequins, clowns, etc., as in pantomime, for striking other performers, especially a combination of laths that make a loud, clapping noise without hurting the person struck.

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adjective

1. using, or marked by the use of, broad farce and horseplay.

   a slapstick motion picture.

slapstick British  

/ ˈslæpˌstɪk /

noun

1. 1. comedy characterized by horseplay and physical action

   2. ( as modifier )

      slapstick humour

2. a flexible pair of paddles bound together at one end, formerly used in pantomime to strike a blow to a person with a loud clapping sound but without injury

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Etymology

Origin of slapstick

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900; slap ¹ + stick ¹

Explanation

Slapstick is a ridiculous, exaggerated type of humor. Old movies by Laurel and Hardy and the Marx Brothers are good examples of slapstick. Imagine the laughs you get with the strategic use of a whoopee cushion, and you'll get a sense of what slapstick is. Pratfalls and other physical comedy are an important element of slapstick, from Buster Keaton films, to "I Love Lucy," to "Home Alone." The word slapstick comes from a theatrical device invented in the 16th century—a slap stick, two slats of wood that could be smacked together to mimic the sound of a slap.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

slapstick

But when a delivery bot drives off a pier, or a humanoid faceplants while botching a dance move, people are seeing more than slapstick humor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

This spawned a series of comical situations, much slapstick and the use of fairly primitive special effects, mainly sped-up film.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

“Cartoons were inspired by the slapstick masters. This was a way to pay back to that period that also inspired the Minions.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026

Nobody was better at playing a very handsome guy, the center of attention, who was also nonthreatening, not above a bit of slapstick, a little silly—above all, likable.

From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026

And to Trip, the whole thing was pure comedy: a glorious slapstick spectacle, complete with bleeped-out tirades and plenty of chair throwing.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng