Definition: Comedy

Etymology

From Middle English comedie, from Middle French comedie, from Latin cōmoedia, from Ancient Greek κωμῳδία or kōmōidía, from κῶμος or kômos (revel, carousing) + either ᾠδή or ōidḗ (song) or ἀοιδός or aoidós (singer, bard), both from ἀείδω or aeídō (I sing).

Noun

comedy (countable and uncountable, plural comedies)

(historical) A choric song of celebration or revel, especially in Ancient Greece.
A light, amusing play with a happy ending.
A Midsummer Night's Dream is among Shakespeare's most famous comedies.
(Medieval Europe) A narrative poem with an agreeable ending (e.g., The Divine Comedy).
(drama) A dramatic work that is light and humorous or satirical in tone.
(drama) The genre of such works.
Entertainment composed of jokes, satire, or humorous performance.
Stand-up comedy and humorous films are the most common forms of comedy; humorous songs are underrated.
The art of composing comedy.
A humorous event.

Derived terms

black comedy
comedian
comedic
comedically
improvisational comedy
observational comedy
physical comedy
prop comedy
romantic comedy
screwball comedy
situation comedy
stand-up comedy

Related terms

comic
comical

Credits

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comedy ^history