comedy

noun

com·​e·​dy ˈkä-mə-dē 

plural comedies

1

a

: a medieval narrative that ends happily

Dante's Divine Comedy

b

: a literary work written in a comic style or treating a comic theme

the ancient Roman comedies of Plautus

2

a

: a drama of light and amusing character and typically with a happy ending

a comedy about parenthood

b

: the genre of dramatic literature dealing with the comic or with the serious in a light or satirical manner compare tragedy

3

: a ludicrous or farcical event or series of events

a comedy of errors

4

a

: the comic element

the comedy of many life situations

b

: humorous entertainment

nightclub comedy

Synonyms of comedy

• humor
• satire

Examples of comedy in a Sentence

The new comedy is the network's most popular television show.

The movie includes a lot of physical comedy.

We couldn't help laughing out loud at the comedy of the situation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Maa Behen, a Hindi-language black comedy starring Madhuri Dixit and Triptii Dimri among others, was well received on Netflix. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026

It was commissioned out of the comedy department of the BBC, not the drama department. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026

There's a comedy club right next door for a night of hilarity with top-drawer talent and occasional special guests. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

The four-time Emmy winner, who played college basketball in his native Kansas before going into comedy and becoming Saturday Night Live’s resident jock, doesn’t do fandom halfway. — Julian Sancton, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin comoedia, from Latin, drama with a happy ending, from Greek kōmōidia, from kōmos revel + aeidein to sing — more at ode

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing comedy

• comedy drama
• comedy of errors
• comedy of manners
• cringe comedy
• high comedy
• low comedy
• musical comedy
• romantic comedy
• situation comedy

Rhymes for comedy

• psalmody
• tragicomedy

Kids Definition

comedy

noun

com·​e·​dy ˈkäm-əd-ē 

plural comedies

1

: a light amusing play with a happy ending

2

: a comic literary work

3

a

: an amusing or ridiculous event

b

: humorous entertainment