Satire Definition

sătīr

noun

A literary work in which vices, follies, abuses, etc. are held up to ridicule and contempt.

Webster's New World

Such literary works collectively.

Webster's New World

The use of ridicule, sarcasm, irony, etc. to expose, attack, or deride vices, follies, etc.

Webster's New World

(uncountable) A literary device of writing or art which principally ridicules its subject often as an intended means of provoking or preventing change. Humour is often used to aid this.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Satire

Singular:

satire

Plural:

satires

Implied in satiric (attested in 1387), from Latin satira, from earlier satura, from lanx satura (“full dish"), from feminine of satur. Altered in Latin by influence of Ancient Greek σάτυρος (saturos, “satyr"), on the mistaken notion that the form is related to the Greek σατυρικόν δράμα (saturikon drama, “satyr drama").

From Wiktionary
Latin satira probably alteration (influenced by Greek satur satyr) (and saturos burlesque of a mythical episode) of (lanx) satura fruit (plate) mixture from feminine of satur sated, well-fitted sā- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition