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sitcom

/ˌsɪtˈkɑm/
/ˈsɪtkɒm/
IPA guide

Other forms: sitcoms

Sitcom is short for “situation comedy.” It’s a funny TV show with a realistic setting, like an apartment full of wacky roommates or a restaurant where a regular cast of characters cracks jokes from week to week.

Sitcoms have been around since people began rolling their eyes at laugh tracks. I Love Lucy (1950’s) was an early sitcom; it was one that featured a married couple who had zany misunderstandings. On 30 Rock (2000’s), the situation was a bunch of oddballs in their office making a TV show. On Barney Miller, (1970’s) the situation was a normal police captain surrounded by weird coworkers. The basic elements of a sitcom stay the same from week to week.

Definitions of sitcom
  1. noun
    a humorous radio or TV show featuring a regular cast of fictional characters in different scenarios of everyday life
    synonyms: situation comedy
    see moresee less
    type of:
    comedy
    light and humorous drama with a happy ending
  2. noun
    a humorous television program based on situations that could arise in everyday life
    see moresee less
    type of:
    TV program, TV show, television program, television show
    a program broadcast by television
Pronunciation
US
/ˌsɪtˈkɑm/
UK
/ˈsɪtkɒm/
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