comedy
Americannoun
plural
comedies-
a play, movie, etc., of light and humorous character with a happy or cheerful ending; a dramatic work in which the central motif is the triumph over adverse circumstance, resulting in a successful or happy conclusion.
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that branch of the drama which concerns itself with this form of composition.
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the comic element of drama, of literature generally, or of life.
-
any literary composition dealing with a theme suitable for comedy, or employing the methods of comedy.
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any comic or humorous incident or series of incidents.
- Synonyms:
- banter, pleasantry, humor
noun
-
a dramatic or other work of light and amusing character
-
the genre of drama represented by works of this type
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(in classical literature) a play in which the main characters and motive triumph over adversity
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the humorous aspect of life or of events
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an amusing event or sequence of events
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humour or comic style
the comedy of Chaplin
Other Word Forms
- comedial adjective
- procomedy adjective
Etymology
Origin of comedy
1350–1400; Middle English comedye < Medieval Latin cōmēdia, Latin cōmoedia < Greek kōmōidía, equivalent to kōmōid ( ós ) comedian ( kômo ( s ) merry-making + aoidós singer) + -ia -y 3
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.
In television, Apple TV’s “The Studio” scored the most nominations, with five, including one for performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.
From Los Angeles Times
Since early January, it has won top prizes from American film critics and Hollywood directors, and received the Golden Globe for best comedy.
From Barron's
The town is essentially a sunny place, full of mostly sunny people, to all appearances, a typical comedy hamlet.
From Los Angeles Times
Catherine O'Hara, who died suddenly in January, could win the award for best actress in a comedy series for "The Studio."
From Barron's
Though the characters are different, the vibes are very much “Derry Girls”-plus 20 years, and there are a couple of winks to the hit comedy.
From MarketWatch
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.
