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

• farce
• humor
• slapstick

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

Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Murphy, who played new kid Tai in the iconic 1995 teen comedy, died in 2009 at the age of 32. —Toria Sheffield, People.com, 18 May 2025

Saturday brought the close of the comedy sketch show’s 50th season. —Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 18 May 2025

So, as much as some critics may still want to shade the show, SNL remains one of the most powerful brands in comedy. —Eric Deggans, NPR, 18 May 2025

Elizabeth Perkins revealed on Watch What Happens Live that Robert De Niro was initially set to headline the beloved 1988 family comedy. —Ew Staff, EW.com, 18 May 2025

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

• 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