slapstick

noun

slap·stick ˈslap-ˌstik

: a device made of two flat pieces of wood fastened at one end so as to make a loud noise when used by an actor to strike a person

: comedy stressing farce and horseplay

also : activity resembling slapstick

slapstick adjective

slapsticky

ˈslap-ˌsti-kē

adjective

Did you know?

The idea that knocking people about made for good comedy dates as far back as the Greco-Roman theater, where clowns rambunctiously "attacked" one another onstage. The object from which the word slapstick derives, however, was invented in Italy in the 16th century. Renaissance comedy typically featured stock characters placed in ridiculous situations, and one such ubiquitous character was Harlequin, whose brilliant costuming made him easily recognizable. Harlequin was given to wielding a paddle which was designed to make a terrible noise when he hit someone, usually to the delight of the audience. This paddle was eventually known in English as a "slapstick," and it became a symbol of that type of highly physical comedy. The word slapstick then came to refer to the comedy itself.

Examples of slapstick in a Sentence

an actor whose roles range from slapstick to serious drama a lowbrow comedy that relies heavily on slapstick for its laughs

Recent Examples on the Web

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

When Mario raises his hammer, Luigi can whack it from below and send Mario somersaulting into a foe to deal extra damage with slapstick glee. —

Josh Broadwell, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024 Raimi directs the first episode, Campbell stars throughout, and this is slapstick gore at its finest. —

Simon Hill, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2024 Freakazoid! Arriving a few years into the ’90s superhero-cartoon renaissance, Freakazoid! is both a slapstick superhero parody and a fourth-wall-breaking gag machine. —

Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2024 Neeson stars as the son of Leslie Nielsen’s character in his classic, slapstick comedy franchise. —

Jordan Moreau, Variety, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for slapstick