sketch comedy
Sketch comedy (noun) means a form of comedy made up of a series of short self-contained scenes, each with its own characters and single comic premise, performed by a troupe rather than built into one continuous story. Example: “She trained in improv before moving into sketch comedy.”
How to use sketch comedy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishComedy made of lots of short separate funny scenes.
Neutral. The individual scenes are sketches; the show is a sketch show; the performers are a sketch group or troupe.
Sketch comedy is scripted and rehearsed. If it is being made up on the spot, that is improv, not sketch.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She trained in improv before moving into _____.
Etymology
A compound of sketch, in the sense of a brief and lightly drawn piece, and comedy.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for sketch comedy
See all rhymes for sketch comedy →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between sketch comedy and stand-up?
Stand-up is one performer talking directly to an audience as themselves, telling jokes and stories. Sketch comedy has performers playing characters in short scenes with dialogue, costumes and a fourth wall, usually in a group.
What is the difference between sketch comedy and improv?
Sketch is written in advance, edited and rehearsed until the timing is exact. Improv is invented live from an audience suggestion and is never performed the same way twice, though many sketch writers use improv to generate material.
What is the difference between sketch comedy and a sitcom?
A sitcom follows the same characters in the same setting across a whole series, so jokes build on things the audience already knows. Sketch comedy resets completely between scenes, so every sketch has to establish its own world in seconds.
What is the meaning of sketch comedy?
"sketch comedy" (noun) means a form of comedy made up of a series of short self-contained scenes, each with its own characters and single comic premise, performed by a troupe rather than built into one continuous story.