tragicomedy

[ traj-i-kom-i-dee ]

noun

, plural trag·i·com·e·dies.

1. a dramatic or other literary composition combining elements of both tragedy and comedy.
2. an incident, or series of incidents, of mixed tragic and comic character.

tragicomedy

/ ˌtrædʒɪˈkɒmɪdɪ /

noun

1. 1. a drama in which aspects of both tragedy and comedy are found
   2. the dramatic genre of works of this kind
2. an event or incident having both comic and tragic aspects

Derived Forms

• ˌtragiˈcomic, adjective
• ˌtragiˈcomically, adverb

Other Words From

• trag·i·com·ic [traj-i-, kom, -ik], tragi·comi·cal adjective
• tragi·comi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of tragicomedy¹

1570–80; < Late Latin tragicōmoedia, syncopated variant of Latin tragicocōmoedia. See tragic, -o-, comedy

Word History and Origins

Origin of tragicomedy¹

C16: from French, ultimately from Late Latin tragicōmoedia ; see tragedy , comedy

Example Sentences

The tragicomedy of U.S. politics is that we really do get the government we deserve.

From The Daily Beast

Canada in the West has all races, and it was consistent of me to give a Chinaman of noble birth a part to play in the tragicomedy.

From Project Gutenberg

The distinctions between tragedy, comedy, tragicomedy, and romantic comedy often become barely discernible.

From Project Gutenberg

For a time it is mainly confined to romantic comedy, but it soon enters into tragedy and tragicomedy.

From Project Gutenberg

At the opening of the theatres, tragedy and tragicomedy took up their courses about where they had left off.

From Project Gutenberg

This tragicomedy, as Lamb called it, in two acts, is slighter than "Woodvil" and even less adapted to the stage.

From Project Gutenberg