# katagelasticism

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌkætəd͡ʒəˈlæstɪsɪzm̩/

## Definitions
1. Obtaining pleasure from laughing at or mocking others.

## Etymology
Coined by Willibald Ruch and René T. Proyer, assisted by Christian F. Hempelmann and Sean Harrigan, from Ancient Greek καταγελαστής (katagelastḗs, “mocker”), from καταγελάω (katageláō, “to laugh at, jeer at, laugh down”), from κατά (katá, “downwards”) + γελάω (geláō, “to laugh”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/katagelasticism