Definition

1. Noun:
   • A comic incident or series of incidents: An event or sequence of events that is amusing, funny, or humorous.
   • Light and humorous drama with a happy ending: A genre of dramatic work that is amusing, satirical, or lighthearted in tone and typically concludes with a positive resolution for the main characters.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The mix-up at the hotel was pure comedy. (The series of mistaken identities was very funny.)
  • Shakespeare wrote both tragedy and comedy. (He wrote serious plays and humorous plays with happy endings.)
  • We went to see a new comedy at the theater last night. (We attended a performance of a humorous play.)

Advanced Usage

• "Comedy of manners": A type of comedy that satirizes the behavior and customs of a particular social class or group.
  • The play is a witty comedy of manners about high society.
• "Black comedy" or "dark comedy": A comedy that finds humor in serious, tragic, or taboo subjects like death or war.
  • The film is a brilliant black comedy about a failed assassination attempt.
• "Situation comedy" (sitcom): A genre of comedy television series featuring a recurring cast of characters in a common environment.
  • 'Friends' is one of the most popular situation comedies of all time.

Variants and Related Words

• Comic (adj): Causing laughter or amusement; funny.
  • He has a great comic talent.
• Comedian (n): A person whose profession is to perform comedy and make people laugh.
  • She is a very successful stand-up comedian.
• Comedic (adj): Relating to or characteristic of comedy.
  • The actor has excellent comedic timing.

Synonyms

• Farce: A comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay, often based on an improbable plot.
• Satire: The use of humor, irony, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices.

Related Phrases

• "Slapstick comedy": A type of comedy involving exaggerated physical activity and violence that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy.
  • The silent film era was famous for its slapstick comedy.
• "Stand-up comedy": A comedic performance where a comedian speaks directly to a live audience, usually while standing on a stage.
  • He started his career in stand-up comedy before moving to television.

Related Idioms

• "To be a comedy of errors": A situation characterized by a series of amusing or ridiculous mistakes.
  • The entire planning process was a comedy of errors.
• "No laughing matter" (Antithetical idiom): Something serious that should not be joked about.
  • This is no laughing matter; people's jobs are at risk.

Noun

1. a comic incident or series of incidents
2. light and humorous drama with a happy ending