Satire is a form of writing, art, or performance that uses humor, exaggeration, and irony to criticize foolishness, bad behavior, or problems in society. Instead of lecturing people directly about what's wrong, satire makes its point by being clever and funny.

You might encounter satire in political cartoons that make politicians look ridiculous to highlight their mistakes, or in comedy shows that mock current events. Animal Farm by George Orwell uses farm animals to satirize totalitarian governments. When a student writes a fake newspaper article suggesting that homework should be doubled because students have too much free time, they're using satire to criticize excessive homework.

Satire requires understanding: you need to recognize that the author doesn't literally mean what they're saying. The humor has a purpose beyond just making people laugh. Done well, satire makes people think about problems while entertaining them at the same time.