satire
SAT-eyeur
/ˈsæt.aɪ.ər/
The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize human stupidity or vices, particularly in politics.
Satire aims to critique and provoke reform, distinguishing it from pure comedy or mindless parody.
The story behind the word. Derived from Latin 'satura lanx', meaning 'a full dish filled with varied fruits'. It originally referred to a poetic medley that sampled various social topics before evolving into sharp criticism.
Word relationships
- lampoon: A malicious or written satire targeted at a specific person or institution.
- parody: Mimics a specific style for comedic effect, often without a broader political critique.
- panegyric: A formal public speech or text expressing high praise.
Commonly confused with
- irony: Irony is a device where meaning contradicts surface expectation; satire is an entire genre or mode that uses irony as a tool to critique.
Word family
- satirical (adjective): Containing or using satire.
- satirist (noun): A writer or performer who uses satire.
- satirize (verb): To mock or criticize through satire.
Collocations
- biting satire
- political satire
- social satire
- sharp satire
Example sentences
- "Jonathan Swift's 'A Modest Proposal' uses scathing satire to attack British economic policies towards Ireland." Classical Literature
Memory hook
SAT on ICE — satirists freeze foolish behavior in place to hold it up to ridicule. Laughter used as a weapon for social critique.
When not to use
Do not label every funny piece as satire; if there is no underlying social critique or moral stance, it is just humor.
Fun facts
- Roman satirist Juvenal famously remarked 'Difficile est satiram non scribere'—'It is difficult not to write satire.'
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