witticism

English

Etymology

witty +‎ -icism; coined in the 1670s by John Dryden, by analogy to criticism.

Pronunciation
  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /ˈwɪ.tɪ.sɪz.əm/

Noun

witticism (plural witticisms)

  1. a witty remark
    • 1883: George Eliot, The Essays of George Eliot, chapter 4
      Shock of the witticism is a powerful one; while mere fun will have no power over them if it jar on their moral taste.
    • 2015: Hans Rollman, Freedom of Speech: It’s Complicated, PopMatters
      While the occasional wry witticism seeps through, overall Shipler is painfully conscientious about trying to offer both sides of any debate.

Synonyms

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See also
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