comedy
Comedy (noun) means a form of entertainment, especially a play, film, or performance, meant to amuse and often ending happily. Example: “The theater is putting on a light romantic comedy this summer.”
How to Use Comedy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEntertainment designed to make people laugh — a genre spanning plays, films, stand-up, and TV.
Word Forms
comedies plural
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The theater is putting on a light romantic _____ this summer.
Etymology
From Middle French comedie, from Latin comoedia, from Ancient Greek komoidia — literally "revel-song," from komos ("revel, carousing") and oide ("song").
Synonyms
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Related Words
Rhymes for comedy
See all rhymes for comedy →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “comedy” mean?
The word “comedy” means a form of entertainment, especially a play, film, or performance, meant to amuse and often ending happily. In plain terms, entertainment designed to make people laugh — a genre spanning plays, films, stand-up, and TV.
How do you pronounce “comedy”?
“Comedy” is pronounced KO-muh-dee (/ˈkɑmədi/ in IPA).
How do you use “comedy” in a sentence?
Here is “comedy” used in a sentence: “The theater is putting on a light romantic comedy this summer.”
What is the opposite of “comedy”?
The opposite of “comedy” — its antonyms — are drama and tragedy.
What part of speech is “comedy”?
“Comedy” is a noun.
Where does the word “comedy” come from?
The word “comedy” comes from Ancient Greek. From Middle French comedie, from Latin comoedia, from Ancient Greek komoidia — literally "revel-song," from komos ("revel, carousing") and oide ("song").
Is “comedy” a common word?
“Comedy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “comedy” have?
“Comedy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a form of entertainment, especially a play, film, or performance, meant to amuse and often ending happily.
What is the difference between comedy and tragedy?
They are the two classic dramatic forms. Comedy is light and amusing and usually ends happily, often with problems resolved and characters better off. Tragedy is serious and ends unhappily, typically with the downfall or suffering of its main character. In short, comedy makes us laugh, while tragedy moves us to pity.
What are the main types of comedy?
Comedy takes many forms. Slapstick relies on physical mishaps, satire mocks people or society, and parody imitates other works for laughs. Romantic comedy blends humor with love stories, dark comedy finds jokes in grim subjects, and stand-up is a solo live performance. Farce and sitcoms are popular styles too.
What is the difference between comedy and humor?
Humor is the quality that makes something funny, the sense of amusement itself. Comedy is a form of entertainment built to deliver that amusement, such as a play, film, or stand-up act. So humor is the ingredient, and comedy is the finished dish, though the two words are often used loosely together.
What makes something a comedy?
A comedy is defined by its purpose and tone: it sets out to amuse and entertain, using humor to keep the mood light. Classically it also ends happily, with conflicts resolved and characters content. Whether a play, film, or live act, if laughter and a cheerful resolution are the goal, it counts as comedy.
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