slapstick
noun
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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
Kristina Behr, Parents, 1 July 2024
The film captures everyday life on the street but also has a wild, slapstick energy all its own.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2024
What could have been a nightmare—being forgotten by your family—turns into an adventure with slapstick farce.
—Suelain Moy, Parents, 14 June 2024
Whether dishing hard truths about dilation, lactation, breast pumps, amniocentesis, the exertions of labor and birth, or the melancholy that takes root even in mothers who adore their kids, Babes finds the sweet spot where slapstick meets body horror.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 23 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for slapstick 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'slapstick.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Slapstick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slapstick. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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