SKIP TO CONTENT

satire

/ˈsætaɪər/
/ˈsætaɪə/
IPA guide

Other forms: satires

Satire is a way of making fun of people by using silly or exaggerated language. Politicians are easy targets for satire, especially when they're acting self-righteous or hypocritical.

Even though the ridiculous language of satire isn't intended to be taken seriously, well-made satire can use mockery to get at more serious truths. Sometimes satire can even overtake reality: when the television sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live presented a mock debate between Al Gore and George W. Bush during the 2000 presidential campaign season, the satire was so dead-on that it influenced the way people thought of the candidates.

Definitions of satire
  1. noun
    witty language used to convey insults or scorn
    “"Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own"--Jonathan Swift”
    see moresee less
    type of:
    humor, humour, wit, witticism, wittiness
    a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
  2. noun
    a literary genre that uses humor to ridicule human failings and vices
    see moresee less
    type of:
    genre, literary genre, writing style
    a style of expressing yourself in writing
Pronunciation
US
/ˈsætaɪər/
UK
/ˈsætaɪə/
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘satire'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of gold-punch.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Commonly confused words

irony / satire / sarcasm

Irony, satire, and sarcasm all fall into the category of, "That's funny but I'm not sure what my English teacher wants me to call it."

Continue reading...

Word Family