Actor’s Guide to Essential Comedy Terms
- Neil Mulac
- Sep 1
- 4 min read
Improv classes are a great way to explore a wide range of comedic concepts.
Whether you're preparing for an audition, rehearsing for a show, or just sharpening your comedic toolkit, mastering the language of comedy elevates your performance. Here’s your actor-friendly glossary of essential comedy terms—with examples that bring them to life.
By the way, if you’re eager to apply these in action, sign up for an improv class. It's one of the best places to explore these terms in real-time with peers.
Check out our post [Master Comedy Like Jacques Tati: Essential Lessons for Actors] for more.
Comedy Glossary (A-Z)
1. Absurdity
Embracing the ridiculous or illogical to surprise and delight. Scenes that defy all logic, yet feel just plausible enough to work.
2. Back Line
The area at the back of the stage where those who are not currently in a scene/game wait, watch, and listen. ALSO: In improv or sketch, a secondary character’s line that supports the punchline—often the setup for the comic to shine.
3. Caricature
An exaggerated portrayal of a character’s traits—used for humor. Think of a politician with wildly enlarged gestures or a voice pitch that’s too extreme to be real.
4. Combinations
Mixing two or more comedic elements—like slapstick with satire, or puns with deadpan delivery—to layer humor. ALSO refers to the mixing of two things that do not normally go together to make a joke funny (aka juxstapostion).
5. Deadpan
Delivering outrageous lines or actions with a straight, emotionless face—letting the contrast drive the laughs.
6. Dialogue
What characters say to each other. In comedy, timing and rhythm in dialogue are everything, where each word leads naturally to a laugh.
7. Escalation
Increasing absurdity or stakes in a scene—for example, starting with losing your keys and ending in absurd chaos involving cats, lasers, and mistaken identity.
8. Farce
A high-energy, absurd comedy filled with implausible events, physical humor, and fast pacing—like doors slamming, mistaken identities, and over-the-top reactions.
9. Homophone
Using words that sound alike but mean different things to create puns.
10. Metaphor
A direct comparison without using “like” or “as.” Example: “Life is a roller coaster,” used humorously in a scene where the actor literally rides one.
11. Misdirection
Leading the audience one way, only to surprise them with an unexpected twist—for example, a confession that turns into an absurd, unexpected reveal.
12. One-Liner
A concise joke—sharp, snappy, and packed with punch. Example: “I told my wife she was drawing her eyebrows too high. She looked surprised.”
13. Pace
The speed at which dialogue or action unfolds. A quicker pace can heighten laughs; slow pacing can build anticipation.
14. Pimping
In improv, prompting another performer to say or do something that elevates the scene (often nudging them to be funnier). This sometimes can involve something unpleasant.
15. Pun
A clever play on words exploiting multiple meanings. Example: “I used to be a banker but lost interest.”
16. Punchline
The payoff of a joke that follows the setup—the moment the laughter lands.
17. Repetition
Repeating a word, phrase, or gag to build humor. Classic for absurdity or surprise—used especially in sitcoms to reinforce running jokes.
18. Reversing
Flipping expectations—such as a child chastising a parent, or a villain consoling the hero.
19. Satire
Using humor to critique or mock social issues, politics, or human behavior. Think “Saturday Night Live,” which commonly pokes at political figures.
20. Simile
A comparison using “like” or “as.” Example: “He’s as nervous as a cat in a room full of pit bulls.”
21. Slapstick
Physical comedy rooted in pratfalls, exaggerated reactions, and visual gags—think slipping on banana peels or getting hit in the face with a pie.
22. Spoof
A humorous imitation of a genre, work, or celebrity. Think “Scary Movie” making fun of horror tropes.
23. Stereotype
An exaggerated character trait that leans into clichés for comedic effect—used cautiously and smartly to avoid offense.
24. Status
The relative power or confidence between characters. Low-status characters fumbling, or high-status characters acting oblivious, can be comedic gold.
25. Talking Heads
A scene where performers address the camera or sit still and deliver monologue-style comedy—common in mockumentaries or single-camera comedies. ALSO refers to, in short form improv, a scene/game devoid of action, when players simply stand around the stage speaking of things past or future within the world of the scene. This is to be avoided as much as possible.
Putting It All Together
Picture this: a deadpan bank teller (high status) is confronted by a customer drawn as a wild caricature. The scene quickly builds through escalation—from a simple question about opening an account to absurd demands involving treasure maps and time machines. The teller’s flat pace makes every one-liner and pun land harder. Add a touch of slapstick (the customer fumbling with papers) and a clever misdirection (the customer only wants directions to the bathroom), and suddenly you have a short scene using half a dozen comedy techniques in action.
Why Try an Improv Class?
Improv isn’t just “winging it”—it’s structured, playful, and teaches you to apply all these terms on your feet. Through improv, you’ll:
Practice pacing, escalation, and status shifts in real-time.
Explore misdirection, absurdity, and reversals safely.
Gain confidence in dialogue, one-liners, and punchlines.
Learn to support fellow actors with back lines and pimping.
All this experience enriches your toolkit, whether you're on stage or in front of the camera.
Final Thoughts
This glossary helps you speak the language of comedy. From the verbal wit of puns, punchlines, and satire, to physical humor like slapstick and absurdity, and strategic techniques like repetition and status shifts—every term empowers your comedic instincts.
But the real magic happens when you feel the comedy—not just know the terms. That’s where improv shines. So, take a class, play, experiment—and let your comedy toolkit come to life.
What's your favorite comedic movie or play? Share in the comments section below!
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