Comedy is entertainment that is meant to make people laugh, such as funny movies, plays, or jokes. It can also mean a story that has a happy or lighthearted ending.
From Latin *comoedia*, from Greek *kōmōidia*, originally meaning “village song” or “revel song,” from *kōmos* “revel, merry-making” + *ōidē* “song.” It began as festive, often wild performance with music and jokes.
In ancient Greece, comedy wasn’t just ‘funny’; it was loud, rude, political, and often masked. The ‘happy ending’ we now expect from comedies is a leftover from those early plays, which usually ended with reconciliation and celebration.
Comedy as a profession and art form has historically been male-dominated, with women comedians often marginalized or framed as exceptions. Jokes have frequently relied on gender stereotypes, reinforcing unequal norms.
Avoid using 'women aren't funny' tropes or assuming a default male comedian; refer to 'comedians' rather than 'comedian' plus a gender label unless gender is specifically relevant.
Women have shaped comedy across stand-up, television, and film, often using humor to challenge sexism and expand what topics are considered 'funny' or acceptable on stage.
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