high comedy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

No. 'High' refers to the intellectual and social level, not the degree of humour. A mildly amusing but very witty play can be high comedy, while a hilarious slapstick film is low comedy.

They are closely related. 'Comedy of manners' is a specific subtype of high comedy that focuses on the conventions and behaviours of a particular social class, usually the upper class. All comedy of manners is high comedy, but not all high comedy is strictly a comedy of manners (e.g., some intellectual satire may not focus solely on manners).

Yes, absolutely. While the term originated in theatre, it is commonly applied to films that feature sophisticated, dialogue-driven humour and social satire, such as those by directors like Ernst Lubitsch or Whit Stillman.

Not necessarily. While it often deals with elite settings, its themes (hypocrisy, love, ambition) are universal. However, it typically requires an audience to follow rapid, witty dialogue and understand social nuance, which can be challenging.

A sophisticated form of comedy that relies on witty dialogue, intellectual satire, and the manners and foibles of the upper social classes.

High comedy is usually formal / literary / academic in register.

High comedy: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪ ˈkɒm.ə.di/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhaɪ ˈkɑː.mə.di/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.