Definition of satire Satire

/sæˈtajˌɚ/ - [satayer] - sat•ire

We found 8 definitions of satire from 6 different sources.

What does satire mean?

Noun
satire - witty language used to convey insults or scorn; "he used sarcasm to upset his opponent"; "irony is wasted on the stupid"; "Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own"--Jonathan Swift
		sarcasm, irony, caustic remark
		witticism, wittiness, wit, humor, humour a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter

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satire (Noun)
A literary technique of writing or art which principally ridicules its subject often as an intended means of provoking or preventing change. Humour is often used to aid this.
satire (Noun)
A satirical work.

satire (a.)
A composition, generally poetical, holding up vice or folly to reprobation; a keen or severe exposure of what in public or private morals deserves rebuke; an invective poem; as, the Satires of Juvenal.
satire (a.)
Keeness and severity of remark; caustic exposure to reprobation; trenchant wit; sarcasm.

satire
sat′īr, or sat′ir, n. a literary composition, orig. in verse, essentially a criticism of man and his works, whom it holds up either to ridicule or scorn—its chief instruments, irony, sarcasm, invective, wit and humour: an invective poem: severity of remark, denunciation: ridicule.—adjs. Satir′ic, -al, pertaining to, or conveying, satire: sarcastic: abusive.—adv. Satir′ically.—n. Satir′icalness, the state or quality of being satirical.—v.t. Sat′irīse, to make the object of satire: to censure severely.—n. Sat′irist, a writer of satire. [Fr.,—L. satira, satura (lanx, a dish), a full dish, a medley.]

Satire is a form in art or writing in which people are made to look stupid. Satire can be humorous and make people laugh, but it is not just for making people laugh. Satire makes fun of people’s faults. It shows that they are bad or stupid and makes the reader, viewer or audience laugh at them. Satire can be found in paintings, plays, books, songs, television or movies. Satire often uses irony to make its effect. Satire may be trying to change the way people behave by showing their weaknesses, or make them angry or sad by showing their flaws.

Satire was used long ago, even as long ago as the Ancient Greeks. It was widely known in Elizabethan times. Swift used satire in his book "Gulliver’s Travels" to make fun of people’s stupidity. Works like "The Beggar’s Opera" (1728) used satire to show how silly the politicians of the time were. In modern times the German playwright Bertolt Brecht used a lot of satire in his plays.

Satire is not possible under dictatorships. It was not allowed, for example, in the Soviet Union. Anyone trying to make fun of Stalin would have been put to death immediately.

Satire often points out bad things that powerful people are doing, but may also harm disadvantaged or nonfamous people like you and me. The adjective is satirical.