sarcasm linguistic and literary device Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/sarcasm Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/sarcasm Written by Laura Payne Laura Payne is a freelance writer whose work covers many topics. She is a former Wayne State University linguistics instructor. Laura Payne Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Oct 29, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot a Question Ask the Chatbot a Question sarcasm, form of verbal irony used to convey the opposite of what is actually spoken, especially in order to criticize or insult someone, show irritation, or be funny. For example, if a person is late to a meeting, someone in the room may sarcastically say, “I’m glad to see you could make it on time.” The word sarcasm is derived from the Greek sarkázein, meaning “to tear flesh like a dog.” Over time, the term evolved to mean “to bite one’s lips in rage,” “to gnash one’s teeth,” “to sneer,” and “to speak bitterly.” The first known use of the ...(100 of 724 words)

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