comedy

[kom-i-dee]

noun

plural

comedies 

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 Word Forms

• comedial adjective
• procomedy 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

“I adored the comedy scene in New York, but the allure of L.A. is undeniable,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times

Tragedy and comedy make freaky bedfellows in “Oedipus the King, Mama!”

From Los Angeles Times

The light, as much as it exists in this series, shines through Hahn’s sensitive work as Dominick’s ex-wife Dessa and the welcome breath of comedy Rob Huebel lends to Leo, Dominick’s mischievous best friend.

From Salon

My inclination is to do the fundamentals — it’s a character comedy.

From Los Angeles Times

Newsrooms being breeding grounds for gallows humor, most also understand that futility is a terrific comedy catalyst.

From Salon

Related Words

• farce 
• fun 
• humor 
• satire 
• sitcom