romantic comedy

noun

plural romantic comedies

: a light, comic movie or other work whose plot focuses on the development of a romantic relationship

This brings us to romantic comedies. … They make money, spawn franchises, and are popular in books, movies, and on television. Sexual tension is fun to watch, and we like rooting for a will-they-won't-they couple.

—Elizabeth Logan

also : this style or genre of work

an actor with a talent for romantic comedy

called also rom-com

Examples of romantic comedy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Zendaya and Robert Pattinson‘s romantic comedy has set the date. —J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025

The film is considered one of the great romantic comedies of all time, with Keaton’s eccentric, self-deprecating Annie at its heart. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025

That same year, the actress starred in Baby Boom, her first of many collaborations with writer Nancy Meyers, whose heartwarming romantic comedies were an ideal vehicle for Keaton’s comedic talents. —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 11 Oct. 2025

Playing the titular role in Annie Hall in 1977, Keaton won her first Oscar, cementing her impact in romantic comedy films in decades to come. —Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for romantic comedy

• tragicomedy