sarcasm

English

Etymology

From Late Latin sarcasmus, from Ancient Greek σαρκασμός (sarkasmós, “a sneer”), from σαρκάζω (sarkázō, “I gnash the teeth (in anger)”, literally “I strip off the flesh”), from σάρξ (sárx, “flesh”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈsɑːɹˌkæzəm/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈsɑːˌkæzəm/

• Audio (US)

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Noun

sarcasm (countable and uncountable, plural sarcasms)

1. (uncountable) Use of acerbic language to mock or convey contempt, often using irony and (in speech) often marked by overemphasis and a sneering tone of voice.
   • 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:

     Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness, the consciousness dawning upon him that his eccentricity was not receiving the ovation it merited.

2. (countable) An act of sarcasm.

Usage notes

Because sarcasm and irony often go together, people often use sarcasm to refer to irony. Strictly speaking, an ironic statement is one that means the opposite of its content, and a sarcastic statement is an acerbic or sardonic one. To distinguish the two, joyfully saying "Oh my gosh, I hate you!" to sincerely congratulate one's best friend on their good fortune is ironic, but not sarcastic; saying, "I'm not a mind reader, okay?" is sarcastic, but not ironic.

Synonyms

• (uncountable): derision, facetiousness, irony, ridicule, satire
• (countable): taunt, gibe

Derived terms

Translations

See also

• sarcasm on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Further reading

• “sarcasm”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “sarcasm”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “sarcasm”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French sarcasme, from Latin sarcasmus.

Noun

sarcasm n (plural sarcasme)

1. sarcasm

Declension