absurdist

/əbˈsɜrdɪst/

Other forms: absurdists

In philosophy, art, and literature, something absurdist reflects the idea that life is ridiculous. You know you're watching an absurdist play if the characters exchange nonsensical dialogue and seem to forget who they are.

People with absurdist philosophical beliefs think life has no real meaning, that life is completely absurd and irrational. Even if your personal philosophy doesn't line up with that idea, you probably appreciate the absurdist nature of certain situations. There's a lot of humor in absurdist literature like Samuel Beckett's play Waiting for Godot, in which two buffoonish men wait around for someone (they're not sure who) to show up. Absurdist has a Latin root that means "out of tune."

Definitions of absurdist

1. adjective

   relating to the idea that life is chaotic and meaningless, based on the philosophy introduced by the French thinker Albert Camus and portrayed in art and literature
2. noun

   an artist or writer who portrays works of art based on the belief that life is chaotic and meaningless, often depicting human struggles