- having to do with the theater, the drama, a play, actors, etc.
- characteristic of the theater; dramatic; esp. (in disparagement), melodramatic, histrionic, showy, or affected
- designating or of a film, usually a feature (noun), produced for first exhibition in a commercial theater as distinguished from one made for showing first on TV, as home video, etc.
Origin of theatricalfrom Late Latin theatricus ( from Classical Greek theatrikos) + -al
Also, for 1 and 2, the·at′ric
- Of, relating to, or suitable for dramatic performance or the theater.
- Marked by exaggerated self-display and unnatural behavior; affectedly dramatic.
- Of or relating to a film that is being shown in movie theaters: The blockbuster's theatrical revenue was much higher than anticipated.
- A stage performance, especially by amateurs.
- theatricals Affectedly dramatic gestures or behavior; histrionics.
- the·at′ri·cal′i·ty the·at′ri·cal·ness
(comparative more theatrical, superlative most theatrical)