What is SATIRE?

Tuesday, September 09, 2025 10:09AM

Etymology

• From Middle French satire, from Old French, from Latin satira,
• from earlier satura, from lanx satura (“full dish”), from feminine of satur.
• Altered in Latin by influence of Ancient Greek σάτυρος (sáturos, “satyr”), on the mistaken notion that the form is related to the Greek σατυρικὸν δράμα (saturikòn dráma, “satyr drama”).

Noun

satire (countable and uncountable, plural satires)

• (uncountable) A literary device of writing or art which principally ridicules its subject often as an intended means of provoking or preventing change or highlighting a shortcoming in the work of another. Imitation, humor, irony, and exaggeration are often used to aid this.
• (countable) A satirical work.
• a stinging satire of American politics.
• (uncountable, dated) Severity of remark.

Usage notes:

Often confused with parody, which does not necessarily have an element of social change.

Derived terms:

satirically

satiric, satirical

satirise, satirize

satirist

unsatirised, unsatirized

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satireTuesday, September 09, 2025 10:10AM