Humor and Satire Terminology

absurd

(adj.) inconsistent with reason or common sense

acerbic

(adj.) bitter in tone or taste (sour like lemon)

black humor

(n.) humorous effects resulting largely from grotesque, morbid, or macabre situations dealing with a horrifying and disoriented world.

caricature

(n.) an exaggeration or other distortion of characteristics to the point of making a person appear ridiculous

caustic

(adj.) burning; in wit, using a harsh tone

colloquial

(adj.) characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation

comedian

(n.) a performer who uses humor to elicit laughter

comedy

(n.) an amusing event or series of events designed with the purpose of providing enjoyment and causing laughter.

derision

(n.) contemptuous ridicule or mockery

euphemism

(n.) indirect, mild, or vague language in place of more blunt or insulting terms - comes from a need to be "politically correct"

high comedy

(n.) comedy characterized by grace, elegance, and wit; more intellectual than physical

Horatian satire

(n.) satire that is gentle, chiding, or corrective in tone

humor

(n.) having a quality that causes or senses amusement

humorist

(n.) a writer who recognizes and comments on the humor of a situation or action

hyperbole

(n.) a deliberate exaggeration to achieve an effect; overstatement

idiom

(n.) a common, often used expression that doesn't make sense if you take it literally

incongruity

(n.) nonconformity or incompatibility

invective

(n.) speech or writing that attacks, insults, or denounces a person, topic, or institution

irony

(n.) a contrast or incongruity between expectations for a situation and what is reality

Juvenalian satire

(n.) satire that denounces human vice and error, often in dignified tones

low comedy

(n.) comedy involving crude, boisterous slapstick humor; more physical than intellectual

monologue

(n.) a speech delivered by a single person

observational humor

(n.) humor that looks at a daily phenomenon of life and comments on it in a funny way

parody

(n.) humorous or satirical imitation of a person, event or work of literature meant to ridicule or criticize by duplication

persona

(n.) the outward character or role that a person assumes

pun

(n.) humorous use of a word with more than one meaning; a play on words

ribald

(adj.) humorous in a vulgar way

ridicule

(n.) words intended to belittle a person or idea and arouse contemptuous laughter

sarcasm

(n.) witty language used to convey insults or scorn

sardonic

(adj.) mocking or disdainful in tone; no praise intended

satire

(n.) a manner of writing that mixes a critical attitude with humor in an effort to improve the human condition

scatalogical

(adj.) designed to be offensive, often because of its focus on excrement ("potty humor")

stereotype

(n) an oversimplified or over-generalized image or idea about a group of people

understatement

(n.) using language to reduce something in magnitude or importance

wit

(n.) clever use of language to amuse the reader, but more to make a point

zany

(adj.) clownish or funny in a crazy, bizarre, or ludicrous way