Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Language: French
Origin: sarcasme, from Late Latin, from Greek sarkasmos, from sarkazein 'to tear flesh, bite your lip angrily, sneer', from sarx 'flesh'

sarcasm

 noun
     
sar‧cas‧m [uncountable]
a way of speaking or writing that involves saying the opposite of what you really mean in order to make an unkind joke or to show that you are annoyed:
'Good of you to arrive on time,' George said, with heavy sarcasm (=very clear sarcasm).
hint/trace/edge/touch of sarcasm
There was just a touch of sarcasm in her voice.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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