satire
Say it: SAT-eye-uh /ˈsataɪə/ · noun
What “satire” means
Humour that exposes and criticises foolishness or bad behaviour.
More precisely: Using humour, irony or exaggeration to expose and criticise people's foolishness or vices.
Example: “The show's satire of tech billionaires lands because it's barely exaggerated.”
When to use it
Use it for comedy that makes a critical point about society, powerful people or harmful behaviour, rather than simply entertaining.
Similar words
mockery, ridicule, parody
Where it comes from
From Latin satura, 'medley', from satur 'full'.
Quick check
A cartoon shows greedy officials eating a bridge's repair money while the bridge crumbles behind them. The humour is…
flattery or satire?
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satire
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