Comedy terms

Satire

Satire-the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues

Parody/spoof

Spoof/parady-a humorous imitation of something, typically a film or a particular genre of film, in which its characteristic features are exaggerated for comic effect

Wit

Wit-a natural aptitude for using words and ideas in a quick and inventive way to create humor.

Slapstick

comedy based on deliberately clumsy actions and humorously embarrassing events.

Double entendre

Double Entendres-a word or phrase open to two interpretations, one of which is usually risqué or indecent.

Malapropism

Malapropism-the mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with unintentionally amusing effect, as in, for example, "dance a flamingo " (instead of flamenco

Pregnant pause

Pregnant pause-A pregnant pause (as in the classical definition, "many possibilities") is a technique of comic timing used to accentuate a comedy element, where the comic pauses at the end of a phrase to build up suspense.

Pun

Pun-a joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings. "the pigs were a squeal (if you'll forgive the pun)"

Dark/black comedy

Black humor-A black comedy (or dark comedy) is a comic work that employs black humor, which, in its most basic definition, is humor that makes light of otherwise serious subject matter. Black humor corresponds to the earlier concept of gallows humor

Caricature

Caricature-a picture, description, or imitation of a person or thing in which certain striking characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect.

Comedic timing

Comedic timing-Comic timing is the use of rhythm, tempo and pausing to enhance comedy and humour. The pacing of the delivery of a joke can have a strong impact on its comedic effect, even altering its meaning; the same can also be true of more physical comedy such as slapstick.

Absurdist humor

Absurdist humor-Surreal humor (also known as absurdist humor) is a form of humor predicated on deliberate violations of causal reasoning, producing events and behaviors that are obviously illogical.