Definition of PRATFALL

Did You Know?

The human posterior has been given a number of designations over the centuries, some not acceptable in polite company. "Prat," a slang term with only slightly indecorous overtones, has been used in reference to the backside since the 16th century. It wasn't until the 1930s, however, that falling on one's prat gave rise to the term "pratfall." The word first cropped up in the lingo of comedy theater, where a pratfall is often part of a slapstick routine. It wasn't long before we gave the word its extended sense of "blunder." Now, with "prat" rarely used as a synonym of "derriere" anymore, "pratfall" is as apt to suggest getting a pie in the face as landing bang on one's behind.

Examples of pratfall in a Sentence

He slipped and took a pratfall into the mud.

Recent Examples on the Web

Its rambling public rooms are wildly theatrical, its more compact ones suggest an unexpected intimacy, and its over-the-top decorative features offer opportunities for any number of pratfalls. — New York Times, "Summer’s Most Style-Savvy Movie Is a Cartoon," 3 July 2018 Its rambling public rooms are wildly theatrical, its more compact ones suggest an unexpected intimacy, and its over-the-top decorative features offer opportunities for any number of pratfalls. — New York Times, "Summer’s Most Style-Savvy Movie Is a Cartoon," 3 July 2018 Its rambling public rooms are wildly theatrical, its more compact ones suggest an unexpected intimacy, and its over-the-top decorative features offer opportunities for any number of pratfalls. — New York Times, "Summer’s Most Style-Savvy Movie Is a Cartoon," 3 July 2018 The variously slinky and driven choreography features such sidelights as pratfalls, teasingly competitive back-and-forth accents, sassy shoulder shimmies and snappy hand jives. — Robert Greskovic, WSJ, "‘Minimalism and Me’ Review: Twyla Tharp Tells Her Story," 19 Nov. 2018 The most reliable eye-catcher is still the pratfall. — Richard Goldstein, New York Times, "Frank Ramsey, First Among ‘Sixth Men’ in the N.B.A., Dies at 86," 8 July 2018 Watching Izzy’s frenzied pratfalls often feels like watching a documentary of Ms. Davis — always great — running a hamster wheel that powers uninspired comic material. — Ben Kenigsberg, New York Times, "Review: Mackenzie Davis Gets ‘Across Town,’ With Diversions," 21 June 2018 Its rambling public rooms are wildly theatrical, its more compact ones suggest an unexpected intimacy, and its over-the-top decorative features offer opportunities for any number of pratfalls. — New York Times, "Summer’s Most Style-Savvy Movie Is a Cartoon," 3 July 2018 Comedy norms may shift drastically from generation to generation, but pratfalls remain in style. — Andrew R. Chow, New York Times, "What’s on TV Wednesday: The World Cup Semifinals and ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’," 11 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pratfall.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.