fourth wall

noun

: an imaginary wall (as at the opening of a modern stage proscenium) that keeps performers from recognizing or directly addressing their audience

Examples of fourth wall in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When a system can drop the fourth wall unprompted, ingest its own structural tells and re‑engage with unvarnished candor, the vulnerability shifts from deceptive compliance to authentic resonance. — Terry Oroszi, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

That was also when many of the brand’s signature aesthetics — the black-and-white [as] logo, bumps and interstitials that break the fourth wall, and legendary April Fool’s Day pranks — began to take shape. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026

The ambitious staging literally rips the fourth wall off a two-story house, giving a voyeuristic view into the kitchen, living room, bathroom and bedroom. — William Earl, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026

As somebody who has done reality TV before, what is your take on how House of Stassi strips down this fourth wall? — Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1807, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for fourth wall

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• befall
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale