English

comedy

gb/kˈɑmədi/ us/kˈɑmədi/
A2 English
~ 3400
Senses
0 senses
Noun A2 entity
1

Entertainment meant to be funny

A show, movie, or play that is made to make people laugh.

Usage pattern: a [comedy] about [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'comedy' with 'comedian'. 'Comedy' is the type of entertainment, while 'comedian' is the person who performs it.
Synonyms
humor (Refers broadly to the quality of being funny, not necessarily a specific work.) | farce (A more exaggerated and absurd type of comedy.)
Antonyms
tragedy (A dramatic work dealing with serious themes and often ending unhappily.)
Collocations
romantic comedy |stand-up comedy |comedy show |comedy club |comedy series
Themes
entertainment |arts |media |arts_entertainment
Examples
  • We watched a romantic comedy last night and laughed the whole way through.
  • The festival features live music, theater, and stand-up comedy.
  • He prefers comedy over action films because it helps him relax.
  • The new comedy series has been a big hit with audiences.
  • She dreams of performing comedy on stage someday.
Learner examples
  • I like to watch comedy shows.
  • This movie is a comedy.
  • He is good at writing comedy.
  • The comedy made everyone smile.
Noun B1 event
2

Unintentionally funny situation

A situation that is funny, often by mistake or without planning.

Usage pattern: [something] was a comedy of errors
Common mistake:
Some learners think 'comedy of errors' always refers to Shakespeare's play; it can also describe any real-life series of mistakes.
Synonyms
farce (A ridiculous situation, often chaotic and exaggerated.)
Antonyms
disaster (A situation that is very bad and not humorous at all.)
Collocations
comedy of errors
Themes
daily life |humor |daily_life |arts_entertainment
Examples
  • The meeting turned into a comedy of errors when the projector broke and the speaker lost his notes.
  • Her attempt to fix the sink was pure comedy.
  • From start to finish, the trip was a comedy of mistakes.
Learner examples
  • The party was a comedy of errors.
  • His speech became a comedy when the lights went out.
  • It was like a comedy when the bus broke down.
Grammar
Dictionary form
comedy
IPA
GB/kˈɑmədi/
US/kˈɑmədi/
Syllables & stress
com - edy (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (com)
Word forms
Noun
  • Base: comedy
  • Plural: comedies, comedy
Word family
Forms
comedies noun
Core family
comedian noun B1 comic adjective B1 comical adjective
Related words
comedic adjective comically adverb
Advanced or less common
tragicomedy noun tragicomic adjective
Expressions

comedy of errors

1
/kˈɑmədi əv ˈɛɹɚz/
idiom

Series of funny mistakes

A situation where many small mistakes happen, making it funny or silly.

Examples
  • The wedding rehearsal was a complete comedy of errors, with people forgetting their lines and standing in the wrong places.
  • Our attempt to cook dinner together turned into a comedy of errors.

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