Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
gallows-humor
noun
/ˈɡal.əʊz ˈhjuː.mər/
Definition
A type of humor that finds amusement in topics that are generally considered serious, taboo, or distressing, particularly death or suffering.
Examples
- She used gallows humor to lighten the mood at the funeral, cracking jokes about her late uncle’s wild life.
- The soldiers often resorted to gallows humor to deal with the horrors they faced during the war.
- His gallows humor helped his friends process their grief after the tragedy.
Meaning
Gallows humor often involves making jokes about difficult, morbid, or painful situations as a way to cope with them.
Synonyms
- dark humor
- black comedy
- cruel humor
