farce

[ fahrs ]

noun

1. a light, humorous play in which the plot depends upon a skillfully exploited situation rather than upon the development of character.
2. humor of the type displayed in such works.
3. foolish show; mockery; a ridiculous sham.

   Synonyms: travesty, burlesque

4. Cooking. forcemeat.

verb (used with object)

, farced, farc·ing.

1. to season (a speech or composition), especially with witty material.
2. Obsolete. to stuff; cram.

farce

/ fɑːs /

noun

1. a broadly humorous play based on the exploitation of improbable situations
2. the genre of comedy represented by works of this kind
3. a ludicrous situation or action
4. Alsofarcemeat another name for forcemeat

verb

1. to enliven (a speech, etc) with jokes
2. to stuff (meat, fowl, etc) with forcemeat

Other Words From

• un·farced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of farce¹

First recorded in 1300–50; (for the noun) Middle English fars “stuffing,” from Middle French farce, from Vulgar Latin farsa (unrecorded), noun use of feminine of Latin farsus, earlier fartus “stuffed,” past participle of farcīre “to stuff”; (for the verb) Middle English farsen, from Old French farcir, from Latin farcīre

Word History and Origins

Origin of farce¹

C14 (in the sense: stuffing): from Old French, from Latin farcīre to stuff, interpolate passages (in the mass, in religious plays, etc)

Example Sentences

I hope this farce comes to an end soon, but I don’t have my hopes up.

From Slate

In the midst of this forgive-me farce, De León reiterated that, nope, he’s going to stay in his seat.

From Los Angeles Times

As Bucefalo, baritone Armando Contreras winningly overplayed the virtuoso farce, which was neither too lowbrow nor too highbrow.

From Los Angeles Times

When Baker dives into the repercussions, “Anora” slows down and transforms from a slapstick farce to a true character study, and it’s then when the film shines its brightest.

From Salon

When Baker dives into the repercussions, “Anora” slows down and transforms from a slapstick farce to a true character study.

From Salon

Related Words

• absurdity
• burlesque
• caricature
• comedy
• joke
• mockery
• parody
• sham
• skit
• slapstick
• travesty