Comedic

Comedic is an adjective describing material that is intended to provoke laughter or that belongs to the genre of comedy. It can apply to films, plays, television programs, stand-up routines, and literary works that aim to amuse an audience. Comedic works rely on a range of devices—timing, wordplay, irony, exaggeration, incongruity, parody, and physical humor—to generate amusement.

In analysis and criticism, comedic elements are often discussed in terms of style and delivery. Comedic timing refers to the rhythm and pacing of jokes or gags, with pauses and tempo shaping how an audience perceives humor. Comedic works may feature lighthearted plots and cheerful outcomes, but many forms also use satire or dark humor to address social, political, or personal subjects through humor.

The term is distinct from comical in everyday usage. Comedic usually signals a deliberate craft or genre-oriented intent, while comical can describe something funny, odd, or absurd in a more general sense. Common formats described as comedic include stand-up, sitcoms, sketches, parody, and slapstick, as well as romantic comedies in film and literature. Comedic technique is often employed to relieve tension, underscore character traits, or critique folly through humor.

See also: comedy, humor, satire, parody, timing.