- comedy characterized by horseplay and physical action
- (as modifier): slapstick humour
- a flexible pair of paddles bound together at one end, formerly used in pantomime to strike a blow to a person with a loud clapping sound but without injury
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
slap•stick /ˈslæpˌstɪk/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Show Businesscomedy characterized by silly, noisy, and physically violent action.
adj.
- using or marked by slapstick:a slapstick routine.
slap•stick
(slap′stik′),USA pronunciation n.
adj.
- Show Businessbroad comedy characterized by boisterous action, as the throwing of pies in actors' faces, mugging, and obvious farcical situations and jokes.
- Show Businessa stick or lath used by harlequins, clowns, etc., as in pantomime, for striking other performers, esp. a combination of laths that make a loud, clapping noise without hurting the person struck.
adj.
- using, or marked by the use of, broad farce and horseplay:a slapstick motion picture.
- slap1 + stick1 1895–1900, American.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
slapstick /ˈslæpˌstɪk/ n
'slapstick' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
banana skin
- custard pie
- low comedy
- brand
- burlesque
- circus
- collage
- custard-pie
- Keystone Kop
- knockabout
- proagon
- Punch-and-Judy show