comedy

[ kom-i-dee ]

noun

, plural com·e·dies.

1. 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.
2. that branch of the drama which concerns itself with this form of composition.
3. the comic element of drama, of literature generally, or of life.
4. any literary composition dealing with a theme suitable for comedy, or employing the methods of comedy.
5. any comic or humorous incident or series of incidents.

   Synonyms: banter, pleasantry, humor

comedy

/ ˈkɒmɪdɪ /

noun

1. a dramatic or other work of light and amusing character
2. the genre of drama represented by works of this type
3. (in classical literature) a play in which the main characters and motive triumph over adversity
4. the humorous aspect of life or of events
5. an amusing event or sequence of events
6. humour or comic style

   the comedy of Chaplin

comedy

1. A work — play, story, novel , or film — that ends happily for the main character (or protagonist ) and contains humor to some degree. A comedy may involve unhappy outcomes for some of the characters. Shylock , for example, in The Merchant of Venice, a comedy by William Shakespeare , is disgraced in the play. The ancient Greeks and Romans produced comedies, and great numbers have been written in modern times.

Other Words From

• co·me·di·al [k, uh, -, mee, -dee-, uh, l], adjective
• pro·come·dy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of comedy¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of comedy¹

C14: from Old French comédie, from Latin cōmoedia, from Greek kōmōidia, from kōmos village festival + aeidein to sing

Example Sentences

Since then, the pair of comedy royalty have shared photos from their Valentine’s Day celebrations and various vacations.

From Los Angeles Times

Somerville also denied claims in the Sunday Times newspaper that her announcement last week of winter fuel payments for elderly Scots had played out like an episode of comedy The Thick of It.

From BBC

Blanchett, 55, was promoting her new film Rumours - an apocalyptic comedy about a group of world leaders trapped in a forest.

From BBC

The premise of the movie - how to stay warm when Ukraine’s bitter winter sets in – is hardly the stuff of comedy.

From BBC

With a friendship dating back to childhood and a professional partnership that began in their college years, Abrahams and the Zuckers created some of the most quotable comedies of the era.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• farce
• fun
• humor
• satire
• sitcom