Meaning & use
sitcom
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Meaning
nouncountableinformal
A television comedy series with the same characters in everyday situations, usually filmed in front of an audience.
Grammar: Often used with 'on': 'a sitcom on TV.'
Patterns
- a sitcom about something
- a sitcom on TV
- watch a sitcom
Friends is one of the most popular sitcoms of all time.
We watched a new sitcom about a family running a hotel.
The sitcom has been on air for ten seasons.
Word forms
| plural | sitcoms |
|---|
Common combinations
- TV sitcom
- She grew up watching classic TV sitcoms.
- a sitcom about
- They're making a sitcom about office life.
- sitcom character
- He's famous for playing a lovable sitcom character.
- hit sitcom
- The show became a hit sitcom in the 1990s.
Synonyms and how they differ
- comedy series
- A more formal and general term; 'sitcom' specifically suggests a recurring cast in everyday situations.
- situation comedy
- The full, formal form of 'sitcom'; it is used in more official or written contexts.
Word family
- situation comedy noun
- The full form of 'sitcom,' used in formal writing.
Commonly confused: sitcom or drama?
sitcom vs drama
A drama is a serious TV series, while a sitcom is a comedy. They are different genres.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'sitcom' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A sitcom is a comedy series, usually on TV, about everyday situations. A murder investigation would be a drama, and sitcoms are not typically shown at cinemas or theatres.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sitcom”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.