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Glite Dictionary
black comedy

black comedy

3 6.3
A play or film that makes serious subjects, especially taboo ones, seem funny
  • noun
  • /blæk ˈkɒmədi/
  • Literature
translation icon : comedia negra
  • You have to see that movie Scarface as a black comedy, right?

Romance continues to be good black comedy world of shameless white trash.

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Examples

  • Barry Levinson's 1997 movie is a black comedy about the production of a fake "movie" designed to boost the president's re-election chances.

    Blog text (21)

  • Have we ever seen anyone on TV pull off black comedy with such a straight face?

    Blog text (33)

  • "Killer Joe" puts the black back into black comedy.

    Blog text (18)

  • I thought "In Bruges" was the funniest black comedy I had seen in years.

    Blog text (27)

  • Unfortunately, as successful an attempt as the first few opening scenes may be, the remaining two hours of clashing melodrama and black comedy completely ruin everything.

    Blog text (19)

  • I vote for JS Beckermann for Mayor McCheese of Millburn. Black comedy is always a reasonable respite in the face of grim news. Satire is a meaningful way to effect change.

    Blog text (6)

  • Continuing to draw on theatrical terms, perhaps the story of God's suffering in Christ could be categorized as a "black comedy"—a story that walks up to the very edge of tragedy but does not succumb to its bleak ending.

    Academic text (2009)

  • The film is a brilliant black comedy that turns tragedy into laughter with its clever writing.

  • Many audiences appreciate black comedy for its ability to highlight serious issues while keeping them entertaining.

  • Critics hailed the show as a classic example of black comedy, expertly blending dark humor with poignant social commentary.

Synonyms

dark comedy
vsblack comedy
3 5.3

Funny stories that use shocking or sad topics to make people laugh

is broader, covering humorous takes on serious subjects without necessarily bleak tone
black humor
vsblack comedy
  • US
3 6.5

Jokes about serious or sad topics that make people laugh

is the same in meaning but is the common alternative phrase
gallows humor
vsblack comedy
3 8.4

Jokes about very serious or sad events that help people cope

is general comedic treatment, not specifically used for coping in adversity

How Dark

black comedy
  • Literature
3 6.3
dark comedy
3 5.3
comedy
315 1.3

Surface Forms

black comedy singular
black comedies plural

Morphology

black + comedy

The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'black' (dark, morbid) with 'comedy' (a humorous work): it denotes humor about dark, serious, or taboo subjects. This adjectival composition is regular and has clear cross-linguistic parallels (e.g. 'humour noir' / 'humor negro'), so a B1 learner who knows both words will most likely infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Black comedy uses black to mean 'dark' or linked to 'death', and comedy to mean jokes. So it is humor that makes jokes about sad, shocking, or 'taboo' subjects.