comedy

noun

com·​e·​dy ˈkä-mə-dē 

plural comedies

1

a

: a medieval narrative that ends happily

Dante's Divine Comedy

b

: a literary work written in a comic style or treating a comic theme

the ancient Roman comedies of Plautus

2

a

: a drama of light and amusing character and typically with a happy ending

a comedy about parenthood

b

: the genre of dramatic literature dealing with the comic or with the serious in a light or satirical manner compare tragedy

3

: a ludicrous or farcical event or series of events

a comedy of errors

4

a

: the comic element

the comedy of many life situations

b

: humorous entertainment

nightclub comedy

Synonyms of comedy

• humor
• satire

Examples of comedy in a Sentence

The new comedy is the network's most popular television show.

The movie includes a lot of physical comedy.

We couldn't help laughing out loud at the comedy of the situation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Two Chicago-area filmmakers have created a new horror-comedy trivia game show that is filming right here in Chicago's Portage Park neighborhood. — CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026

Saint James was also nominated in 1984 for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series for her role as Kate McArdle. — ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026

The 1994 campus comedy PCU, starring Jeremy Piven and a young Jon Favreau in a Gen X update of Animal House in the era of political correctness, was based on his hometown. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2026

In the later years, horror, romance, comedy and drama all made gains. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin comoedia, from Latin, drama with a happy ending, from Greek kōmōidia, from kōmos revel + aeidein to sing — more at ode

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing comedy

• comedy drama
• comedy of errors
• comedy of manners
• cringe comedy
• high comedy
• low comedy
• musical comedy
• romantic comedy
• situation comedy

Rhymes for comedy

• psalmody
• tragicomedy

Kids Definition

comedy

noun

com·​e·​dy ˈkäm-əd-ē 

plural comedies

1

: a light amusing play with a happy ending

2

: a comic literary work

3

a

: an amusing or ridiculous event

b

: humorous entertainment