Farce vs. Slapstick — What's the Difference?

Farce is a comedy that seeks to entertain the audience through situations that are highly exaggerated, extravagant, ridiculous, absurd, and improbable. Farce is also characterized by heavy use of physical humor; the use of deliberate absurdity or nonsense; satire, parody, and mockery of real-life situations, people, events, and interactions; unlikely and humorous instances of miscommunication; ludicrous, improbable, and exaggerated characters; and broadly stylized performances.

Slapstick is a style of humor involving exaggerated physical activity that exceeds the boundaries of normal physical comedy. Slapstick may involve both intentional violence and violence by mishap, often resulting from inept use of props such as saws and ladders.The term arises from a device developed for use in the broad, physical comedy style known as commedia dell'arte in 16th-century Italy.

A light dramatic work in which highly improbable plot situations, exaggerated characters, and often slapstick elements are used for humorous effect.

Comedy based on deliberately clumsy actions and humorously embarrassing events

The branch of literature constituting such works.

A device consisting of two flexible pieces of wood joined together at one end, used by clowns and in pantomime to produce a loud slapping noise

The broad or spirited humor characteristic of such works.

A boisterous form of comedy marked by sight gags and absurd or violent mishaps or pranks, such as slipping on a banana peel.

A ludicrous, empty show; a mockery

A paddle designed to produce a loud whacking sound, formerly used by performers in farces.

A seasoned stuffing, as for roasted turkey.

(uncountable) A style of humor focusing on physical comedy, such as slipping on a banana peel, and with foolish characters who get into humiliating situations.

To pad (a speech, for example) with jokes or witticisms.

(countable) A pair of sticks attached at one end and used to create a slapping sound effect, used especially in slapstick comedy; a type of clapper.

To stuff, as for roasting.

A boisterous comedy with chases and collisions and practical jokes

(uncountable) A style of humor marked by broad improbabilities with little regard to regularity or method.

Acoustic device consisting of two paddles hinged together; used by an actor to make a loud noise without inflicting injury when striking someone

(countable) A motion picture or play featuring this style of humor.

Characterized by horseplay and physical action;

(uncountable) A situation abounding with ludicrous incidents.

(uncountable) A ridiculous or empty show.

(culinary) Forcemeat, stuffing.

(transitive) To stuff with forcemeat or other food items.

To fill full; to stuff.

To make fat.

To swell out; to render pompous.

To stuff with forcemeat; hence, to fill with mingled ingredients; to fill full; to stuff.

To render fat.

To swell out; to render pompous.

Stuffing, or mixture of viands, like that used on dressing a fowl; forcemeat.

A low style of comedy; a dramatic composition marked by low humor, generally written with little regard to regularity or method, and abounding with ludicrous incidents and expressions.

Ridiculous or empty show; as, a mere farce.

A comedy characterized by broad satire and improbable situations

Mixture of ground raw chicken and mushrooms with pistachios and truffles and onions and parsley and lots of butter and bound with eggs