comic relief

UK/ˈkɒmɪk ɹɪˈliːf/US/ˈkɑmɪk ɹɪˈliːf/

noun

The inclusion of a humorous character or scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.

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Meanings

nouncomic relief (uncountable)
  1. uncountablehuman sciencesThe inclusion of a humorous character or scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.
    1 more example

    The sequence where Sam carves off Jorah’s infected tissue in secret, stopping every few moments to shush his patient, is presented as comic relief why? Jorah reels back into a diagonal close-up whimpering like a dog. Yellow pus oozes to get those good gross-out laughs. Is the substance of this operation funny to anyone on its face?

    2017 July 23, Brandon Nowalk, “The great game begins with a bang on Game Of Thrones (newbies)”, in The Onion AV Club

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 滑稽場面 /滑稽场面, 喜劇性鏡頭 /喜剧性镜头
  • 滑稽場面 /滑稽场面 (huáji chǎngmiàn)inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • 喜劇性鏡頭 /喜剧性镜头 (xǐjù xìng jìngtóu)inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • 輕鬆場面 /轻松场面 (qīngsōng chǎngmiàn)inclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • 可笑的安心 (kěxiào de ānxīn)inclusion of a humorous character or scene
Dutch vrolijke noot
  • vrolijke nootinclusion of a humorous character or scene
Finnish kevennys, koominen kevennys
  • kevennysinclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • koominen kevennysinclusion of a humorous character or scene
French faire-valoir comique
  • faire-valoir comiqueinclusion of a humorous character or scene
German Comic Relief, komische Entlastung
  • Comic Reliefinclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • komische Entlastunginclusion of a humorous character or scene
Greek κωμική ανακούφιση
  • κωμική ανακούφιση (komikí anakoúfisi)inclusion of a humorous character or scene
Italian rilievo comico
  • rilievo comicoinclusion of a humorous character or scene
Japanese 息抜き
  • 息抜き (ikinuki)inclusion of a humorous character or scene
Korean 희극 기복
  • 희극 기복 (huigeuk gibok)inclusion of a humorous character or scene
Polish komedia w poważnym dziele
  • komedia w poważnym dzieleinclusion of a humorous character or scene
Portuguese alívio cómico
  • alívio cómicoinclusion of a humorous character or scene
Russian шуточный сброс
  • шуточный сброс (šutočnyj sbros)inclusion of a humorous character or scene
Spanish alivio cómico, relevación cómica
  • alivio cómicoinclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • relevación cómicainclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • aliviamiento humorísticoinclusion of a humorous character or scene
  • toque de comediainclusion of a humorous character or scene
Cite this entry
APA

comic relief. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/comic%20relief

MLA

“comic relief.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/comic%20relief. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “comic relief,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/comic%20relief.

Source: comic relief on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.