tragicomedy

noun

tragi·​com·​e·​dy ˌtra-ji-ˈkä-mə-dē 

: a drama or a situation blending tragic and comic elements

Examples of tragicomedy in a Sentence

The play is a tragicomedy about a man's search for love.

Recent Examples on the Web

Carys made her professional stage debut in June, playing Nina in Anton Chekhov’s tragicomedy The Seagull in Brooklyn. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026

That’s what appears to be the case with Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, who first met in 1992 on the set of romantic tragicomedy Jamón Jamón. — Alessandra De Tommasi, Vanity Fair, 5 July 2026

As opposed to tragedy’s narrative arc of historical fate, tragicomedy unfolds in an infinite present. — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026

Set in Shanghai, the film is a tragicomedy about a mother and daughter grieving their loss while trying to act normal. — Jenny S. Li, Variety, 12 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French tragicomedie, from Old Italian tragicomedia, from Old Spanish, from Latin tragicomoedia, from tragicus + comoedia comedy

First Known Use

circa 1580, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tragicomedy

• comedy
• psalmody

Kids Definition

tragicomedy

noun

tragi·​com·​edy

ˌtraj-i-ˈkäm-əd-ē

: a play or situation which blends tragic and comic elements

tragicomic

-ˈkäm-ik

adjective

also tragicomical

-i-kəl