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

The K-pop romantic comedy follows the virtual idol group LEVRIT with their real identities hidden and a female fan who sees through them. — Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

Black Bear has nabbed the North American rights to Honeymoon / Funeral, the romantic comedy from director Nahnatchka Khan and starring Rebecca Ferguson, Greta Lee and Carrie Coon. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026

By the late 1980s Dempsey had built a following as a young heartthrob through the romantic comedies Can’t Buy Me Love (1987), Some Girls (1988), and Loverboy (1989). — Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026

Between Jordan’s charm and Misty’s smile that only emerges around him, the film flirts with becoming a romantic comedy. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for romantic comedy

• psalmody
• tragicomedy