First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
comedy
noun com·e·dy \ˈkä-mə-dē\
: a play, movie, television program, novel, etc., that is meant to make people laugh
: things that are done and said to make an audience laugh : comic entertainment
: the funny or amusing part of something
plural com·e·dies
Full Definition of COMEDY
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
2
a : a drama of light and amusing character and typically with a happy ending 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>
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Origin of COMEDY
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
Other Performing Arts Terms
Rhymes with COMEDY
COMEDY Defined for Kids
comedy
noun com·e·dy \ˈkä-mə-dē\
plural com·e·dies
Definition of COMEDY for Kids
1
: an amusing play that has a happy ending
2
: an amusing and often ridiculous event
Learn More About COMEDY
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