Definition

A recorded or live audio of audience laughter added to a TV show or comedy program to cue viewers when to find something funny. Common in sitcoms, it serves as a social reinforcement mechanism that can make jokes feel more engaging or signal comedic timing.

Example Usage

The sitcom relied heavily on a laugh track to prompt viewers to laugh at the punchlines.

Origin

Emerged in the 1950s with the advent of television broadcasting; the technique was pioneered by shows like 'I Love Lucy' to replicate the energy of live studio audiences.

Fun Fact

Some viewers find laugh tracks annoying or manipulative, leading modern shows to abandon them in favor of either live studio audiences or no audience reaction at all.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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Translate This Term

See “laugh track” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

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