D
Dicread
HomeDictionaryCcomedy

Note: The translation for this entry is currently under quality review. Some content is temporarily displayed in English only.

comedy

[C/U] Both
pl: comedies

Comedy is defined by the pursuit of laughter through the subversion of expectations, irony, or absurdity. While often associated with lightheartedness, it can range from broad, slapstick humor to sharp, biting social commentary. In a theatrical context, the term carries a historical weight where 'comedy' refers less to jokes and more to a structural resolutionspecifically, a movement from chaos toward order and harmony (often symbolized by a wedding). When used to describe a real-life situation, it implies a sense of detachment. Calling a disaster a "comedy" suggests that the failure is so absolute or ridiculous that it becomes amusing to an observer.

Countable when referring to a specific movie, play, or stand-up routine ('I watched three comedies last night'). Uncountable when referring to the general art form or the quality of being funny ('He has a great sense of comedy').

💬Conversación Casual

🎬Tuesday afternoon, Victoria is in a board meeting while David is at his desk.
Victoria

Your Q3 projection report is a complete comedy of errors.

Victoria
David Smith
David Smith

My bad. I'll pivot the data and touch base by EOD.

💡
Victoria uses the idiom 'comedy of errors' to describe David's report as absurdly full of mistakes. David responds with corporate buzzwords ('pivot', 'touch base', 'EOD') in an attempt to sound professional despite his failure.

Meanings

Noun

A professional entertainment consisting of plays or movies whose chief purpose is to make an audience laugh.

"The new romantic comedy topped the box office this weekend."

Noun

A play characterized by a happy ending, typically involving a marriage or reconciliation.

"Shakespeare's 'As You Like It' is one of his most famous comedies."

Noun

A situation that is amusingly absurd or ridiculous.

"The attempt to assemble the furniture without instructions was a complete comedy of errors."

Last Updated: May 26, 2026Report an Error