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adjective Also the·at·ric.
of or relating to the theater or dramatic presentations: theatrical performances. suggestive of the theater or of acting; artificial, pompous, spectacular, or extravagantly histrionic: a theatrical display of grief. noun
theatricals, - dramatic performances, now especially as given by amateurs.
- artificial or histrionic actions.
a professional actor: a family of renowned theatricals.
Origin of theatrical
1550–60; <
Late Latin theātric(us) <
Greek theātrikós, equivalent to
theā́tr(on)
theater +
-ikos -ic +
-al1 Related formsthe·at·ri·cal·i·ty [thee-a-tri-kal-i-tee] /θiˌæ trɪˈkæl ɪ ti/, the·at·ri·cal·ness, nounthe·at·ri·cal·ly, adverbhalf-the·at·ri·cal, adjectivenon·the·at·ric, adjectivenon·the·at·ri·cal, adjectivenon·the·at·ri·cal·ly, adverbo·ver·the·at·ri·cal, adjectiveo·ver·the·at·ri·cal·ly, adverbo·ver·the·at·ri·cal·ness, nounqua·si-the·at·ri·cal, adjectivequa·si-the·at·ri·cal·ly, adverbsem·i·the·at·ric, adjectivesem·i·the·at·ri·cal, adjectivesem·i·the·at·ri·cal·ly, adverbun·the·at·ric, adjectiveun·the·at·ri·cal, adjectiveun·the·at·ri·cal·ly, adverbDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for theatricality
Contemporary Examples of theatricality
I think the story feels so real to people that despite its theatricality and surrealism, they often dwell on the realism.
There is just a lot of creativity and theatricality in performers who happen to be gay.
What it did do, however, was remind everyone what fashion was before it became thick with theatricality and flamboyance.
To add to the theatricality, actors are engaged to entertain guests with performances of the most offending passages.
Historical Examples of theatricality
It was a mere piece of theatricality, such as it was not in Scaramouche's nature to forgo.
The theatricality in that thought was repulsive to his sober sense.
Genius lies in the instincts; goodness too; all consciousness is theatricality.
It is the note of theatricality, of extravagance, of excess.
There should be moderation even in the shrinking from theatricality.
British Dictionary definitions for theatricalityadjective
of or relating to the theatre or dramatic performances
exaggerated and affected in manner or behaviour; histrionic
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
Word Origin and History for theatricalityadj.1550s, "pertaining to the theater," from theater + -ical. Sense of "stagy, histrionic" is attested from 1709.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
