black humor: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, informal, literary
Quick answer
What does “black humor” mean?
A form of comedy or comic writing that makes light of or jokes about serious, disturbing, or tragic subjects such as death, suffering, or disaster.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A form of comedy or comic writing that makes light of or jokes about serious, disturbing, or tragic subjects such as death, suffering, or disaster.
A philosophical or psychological approach that uses morbid, absurd, or grotesque humour as a coping mechanism in the face of life's difficulties, often to expose societal hypocrisies or the absurdity of existence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'humour' (UK/Commonwealth) vs. 'humor' (US). The British spelling is often retained in formal US contexts. The concept and usage are identical.
Connotations
In both regions, it is strongly associated with specific literary and comedic traditions (e.g., Samuel Beckett, Joseph Heller, "Monty Python", "Fargo").
Frequency
Equally frequent in intellectual, artistic, and media discussions in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “black humor” in a Sentence
[Subject] has/appreciates a [adjective] sense of black humour.The [creative work] is characterised by [its] black humour.He responded to the crisis with [typical] black humour.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “black humor” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The scriptwriters managed to blackly humour even the bleakest scenes.
- He black-humoured his way through the ordeal.
American English
- The show blackly humors the subject of bankruptcy.
adjective
British English
- His black-humour take on the pandemic went viral.
- It's a very black-humour sketch.
American English
- The film's black-humor moments provide unexpected relief.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; inappropriate in most professional communication. Might be referenced in discussing crisis management or stressful industries.
Academic
Common in literary criticism, film studies, psychology, and sociology to analyse texts and cultural responses to trauma.
Everyday
Used to describe a person's coping style or a film/book's tone. 'He has a very black sense of humour.'
Technical
Used as a defined genre or stylistic device in narratology and media studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “black humor”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “black humor”
- Using it to describe simply rude, offensive, or racist jokes (that is 'sick humour' or just offensive comedy).
- Confusing it with 'sarcasm'. Sarcasm is often personal and direct, while black humour is situational and existential.
- Misspelling: 'black humor' (US) vs 'black humour' (UK).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While black humour deals with dark subjects, its intent is typically philosophical, cathartic, or satirical, targeting situations or abstract concepts. Offensive humour directly mocks or degroups specific people or groups.
Yes, psychologists often note it can be a healthy coping mechanism, fostering resilience and social bonding in the face of shared adversity by providing psychological distance from pain.
They are largely synonymous. 'Black humour' often refers more to the style or tone within a work, while 'dark comedy' is frequently used as a genre label for films, plays, or TV shows built around this sensibility.
Writers like Jonathan Swift, Kurt Vonnegut, and Joseph Heller; filmmakers like the Coen Brothers and Quentin Tarantino; and comedians like George Carlin and Lenny Bruce have all employed black humour masterfully.
A form of comedy or comic writing that makes light of or jokes about serious, disturbing, or tragic subjects such as death, suffering, or disaster.
Black humor is usually formal, informal, literary in register.
Black humor: in British English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈhjuː.mə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌblæk ˈhjuː.mɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “laughing in the face of death”
- “whistling past the graveyard”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a comedian telling jokes at a funeral. The setting is BLACK (sombre), but the HUMOUR finds a spark of light in the darkness.
Conceptual Metaphor
HUMOUR IS A SHIELD AGAINST DARKNESS / LAUGHTER IS A RELEASE VALVE FOR PRESSURE.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST example of black humour?