repartee

Repartee is a form of swift, witty dialogue consisting of a clever return or rejoinder to a remark. It emphasizes brevity, precision, and timing, delivering a humorous or pointed effect in a single exchange. A repartee reply, or comeback, often hinges on wordplay, double meaning, or a twist that reframes the original statement. It can be playful or sharp, and its success depends on audience perception and social context.

Historically, repartee has been a feature of literary dialogue, social salons, and stage comedy. It developed in European arts from the early modern period, with strong traditions in French and English writing. In theatre, exchanges of repartee advance plot and reveal character; in everyday conversation, skilled speakers cultivate a rapid, context-aware style that can defuse tension or win favor through wit.

Effective repartee relies on timing, audience awareness, and shared cultural references. Techniques include misdirection, inversion of expectations, precise diction, and concise paradox or epigram. The aim is to deliver a compact, memorable response that reinforces a speaker’s wit or social savvy without resorting to blunt insult.

Notable practitioners include writers and public figures renowned for sharp remarks, such as Oscar Wilde and Dorothy Parker. Quotations like "I never forget a face, but in your case I’ll be glad to make an exception" illustrate the form, though precise attribution can be uncertain. In contemporary media, repartee remains central to stand-up, improv, and political debate.