Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

sarcasm

/ˈsɑːɹˌkæzəm/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.62 in modern English

Syllables: sar-casm
IPA: /ˈsɑːɹˌkæzəm/

11

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

3

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Use of acerbic language to mock or convey contempt, often using verbal irony and (in speech) often marked by overemphasis and sneering.

Uncountable

noun

An individual act of the above.

Countable

Example Sentences

"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."
"2015, Alex Kozinski, Demuth v. County of Los Angeles, 798 F.3d 837, 839 (9th Cir. 2015). While challenging someone equipped with a badge, handcuffs and a gun to “arrest me” was unwise on Demuth’s part, we fail to see what legal difference her statement makes. Demuth certainly could not authorize her own arrest and, in any event, Li could not reasonably have believed that Demuth was volunteering for handcuffs. Demuth was obviously employing “a literary device known as sarcasm.” [Citation omitted.] Her statement was a snide way of refusing; no reasonable officer could have thought otherwise."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *twerḱ- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *túrḱs /*twérḱs Proto-Hellenic *súrks /*swə́rks Ancient Greek σᾰ́ρξ (sắrx) Ancient Greek -ᾰ́ζω (-ắzō) Ancient Greek σᾰρκᾰ́ζω (sărkắzō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek σαρκασμός (sarkasmós)der. Late Latin sarcasmus English sarcasm From Late Latin sarcasmus, from Ancient Greek σαρκασμός (sarkasmós, “a sneer”), from σαρκάζω (sarkázō, “to gnash the teeth (in anger)”, literally “to strip off the flesh”), from σάρξ (sárx, “flesh”).

Word Breakdown

Root: *twerḱ-

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈsɑːɹˌkæzəm/
British English: /ˈsɑːˌkæzəm/

Usage

Inflected Forms

sarcasms (plural) sarc (alternative)

Derived Forms

sarcasmous sarcastic snarkasm

Phrases

sarcasm detector sarcasm-impaired

Synonyms

derision facetiousness irony ridicule satire taunt gibe caustic remark

Questions

How do you pronounce sarcasm?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈsɑːɹˌkæzəm/.
What does sarcasm mean?: Use of acerbic language to mock or convey contempt, often using verbal irony and (in speech) often marked by overemphasis and sneering.
Where does sarcasm come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *twerḱ- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *túrḱs /*twérḱs Proto-Hellenic *súrks /*swə́rks Ancient Greek σᾰ́ρξ (sắrx) Ancient Greek -ᾰ́ζω (-ắzō) Ancient Greek σᾰρκᾰ́ζω (sărkắzō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek σαρκασμός (sarkasmós)der. Late Latin sarcasmus English sarcasm From Late Latin sarcasmus, from Ancient Greek σαρκασμός (sarkasmós, “a sneer”), from σαρκάζω (sarkázō, “to gnash the teeth (in anger)”, literally “to strip off the flesh”), from σάρξ (sárx, “flesh”).

How to pronounce sarcasm

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “sarcasm”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈsɑːɹˌkæzəm/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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