Meaning & use
satire
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Meanings
noununcountable
The use of humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize foolishness or vice in people or society.
Grammar: As an uncountable noun it takes no article: 'a masterpiece of satire', not 'a satire of satire'.
Patterns
- a work of satire
- political satire
- satire of something
The play uses satire to expose the greed of politicians.
Her novel is a sharp piece of social satire aimed at modern consumer culture.
Late-night television has become a major home for political satire.
nouncountable
A particular work, such as a book, film, or play, that uses humor and irony to criticize.
Grammar: Countable when it means one work: 'a satire', 'two satires'.
Patterns
- a satire on something
- write a satire
- a biting satire
Swift's 'A Modest Proposal' is a famous satire on English policy in Ireland.
The film is a gentle satire about office life.
Students read two satires in the course.
noununcountableformal
The genre or tradition of writing and art that mocks human weakness to provoke thought.
Grammar: Uncountable when naming the whole artistic tradition, often after 'in'.
Patterns
- in satire
- the tradition of satire
- classical satire
Roman writers such as Juvenal are central to the history of satire.
She teaches a course on satire from the eighteenth century to today.
Word forms
| plural | satires |
|---|
Common combinations
- political satire
- Political satire often spreads faster online than in newspapers.
- a biting satire
- The show is a biting satire on celebrity culture.
- a satire on something
- The cartoon is a satire on corporate greed.
- social satire
- Social satire can make us laugh and think at the same time.
- a work of satire
- The novel is widely praised as a work of satire.
Synonyms and how they differ
- parody
- Parody imitates a style for comic effect and may not criticize anything; satire always aims at a flaw or target.
- irony
- Irony is a technique or tone; satire is the larger purpose that often uses irony as a tool.
- mockery
- Mockery is simply making fun of someone and can be cruel; satire usually has a moral or social point.
- lampoon
- A lampoon is a harsh, personal written attack; satire is broader and often more thoughtful.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: satire or satyr? satire or irony?
satire vs satyr
A satyr is a mythical creature, half man and half goat. It sounds like 'satire' but has nothing to do with humor or criticism.
satire vs irony
Irony is saying one thing while meaning the opposite; satire is the wider attack on a target, which may use irony.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'satire' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Satire' names humorous criticism of a target, so criticizing the election fits. The other options confuse it with 'pain', 'list', or the verb 'decorate'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “satire”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.