Phrase guide

comic relief

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈkɒmɪk ɹɪˈliːf/
  • General-American: /ˈkɑmɪk ɹɪˈliːf/

1

noun

Meaning 1

The inclusion of a humorous character or scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, narratology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 滑稽場面 /滑稽场面 (huáji chǎngmiàn) — inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • Chinese Mandarin: 喜劇性鏡頭 /喜剧性镜头 (xǐjù xìng jìngtóu) — inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • Chinese Mandarin: 輕鬆場面 /轻松场面 (qīngsōng chǎngmiàn) — inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • Chinese Mandarin: 可笑的安心 (kěxiào de ānxīn) — inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • Dutch: vrolijke noot — inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • Finnish: kevennys — inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • Finnish: koominen kevennys — inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • French: faire-valoir comique — inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • German: Comic Relief — inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • German: komische Entlastung — inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • Greek: κωμική ανακούφιση (komikí anakoúfisi) — inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • Italian: rilievo comico — inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • Japanese: 息抜き (ikinuki) — inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • Korean: 희극 기복 (huigeuk gibok) — inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • Polish: komedia w poważnym dziele — inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • Portuguese: alívio cómico — inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • Russian: шуточный сброс (šutočnyj sbros) — inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • Spanish: alivio cómico — inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • Spanish: relevación cómica — inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • Spanish: aliviamiento humorístico — inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • Spanish: toque de comedia — inclusion of a humorous character or scene