noun Uncommon

skit

Skit (noun) means a short comic performance, usually a few minutes long, with a single joke or situation at its centre — the kind of thing performed at a school assembly, on a variety show or in a social media video. Example: “The sixth form wrote a skit about the head teacher's parking space.”

noun

informal A short comic performance, usually a few minutes long, with a single joke or situation at its centre — the kind of thing performed at a school assembly, on a variety show or in a social media video.

"The sixth form wrote a skit about the head teacher's parking space."

"Half his channel is skits filmed in his kitchen."

"The students performed a skit poking fun at their teachers."

informal A short recorded comic interlude placed between the tracks of an album, especially in hip hop.

"The album has three skits, including a fake radio advert."

"The magazine ran a skit lampooning the new prime minister."

How to Use Skit

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA short funny performance.

When to use it

Informal. Skit suggests something amateur, quick or homemade; a professional television writer is more likely to say sketch.

Memory tip

Use skit for something short and casual; use sketch for a scripted piece in a professional comedy show.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

sketch → stunt → schtick

Common pairings

perform a skit a comedy skit a skit about film a skit

Word Forms

skitted past tense, skits plural, skits singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “skit” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The sixth form wrote a _____ about the head teacher's parking space.

Etymology

Origin uncertain; possibly linked to Old Norse words for moving quickly, and connected to the English word "skittish".

Origin: Old Norse

Synonyms

View more →

sketch spoof routine send-up bit

Related Words

while part bit common ways daily normal standard

Rhymes for skit

kit

See all rhymes for skit →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “skit” mean?

The word “skit” means a short, often comic performance, usually by amateurs. In plain terms, a short funny or mocking scene, often performed for laughs.

What is the difference between a skit and a sketch?

They describe the same thing at different levels of polish. A sketch is a written, rehearsed piece performed by comedians on a show like Saturday Night Live; a skit is looser and more amateur, the word you would use for a camp performance, a classroom piece or a phone-filmed video.

How do you use “skit” in a sentence?

Here is “skit” used in a sentence: “The students performed a skit poking fun at their teachers.”

How long is a skit?

Typically one to five minutes. A skit carries a single premise and ends as soon as the joke has landed, which is why it rarely needs more than a few minutes.

What part of speech is “skit”?

“Skit” is a noun.

Where does the word “skit” come from?

The word “skit” comes from Old Norse. Origin uncertain; possibly linked to Old Norse words for moving quickly, and connected to the English word "skittish".

Is “skit” a common word?

“Skit” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “skit” have?

“Skit” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short, often comic performance, usually by amateurs.

Featured In

Vocabulary lists that include skit:

Words With Old Norse Origins

People Also Searched

while part bit common ways daily normal standard