Definition:

(1) In rhetoric, a sarcastic reply that mocks an opponent, leaving him or her without an answer.

(2) A form of irony directed by a speaker against him- or herself: self-deprecation or mockery at one's own expense.

Etymology:
From the Greek, "mockery, irony"

Examples:

• "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."
  (Lloyd Bentsen to Dan Quayle in 1988 Vice Presidential Debate)

• "Time's up! What do we have for the losers, judge? Well, for our defendants, it's a life time at exotic Fort Leavenworth! And, for defense counsel Kaffee, that's right, it's a court martial! Yes, Johnny! After falsely accusing a highly decorated Marine officer of conspiracy and perjury, Lieutenant Kaffee will have a long and prosperous career teaching . . . typewriter maintenance at the Rocco Globbo School for Women! Thank you for playing 'Should we or should we not listen to the advice of the galactically stupid!'"
  (Tom Cruise as Lt. Daniel Kaffee in A Few Good Men)
• "Out of order, I show you out of order. You don't know what out of order is, Mr. Trask. I'd show you, but I'm too old, I'm too tired, I'm too f---in' blind. If I were the man I was five years ago, I'd take a flamethrower to this place! . . . You think you're merely sending this splendid foot soldier back home to Oregon with his tail between his legs, but I say you are . . . executin' his soul! And why? Because he's not a Bairdman. Bairdmen. You hurt this boy, you're gonna be Baird bums, the lot of ya. And Harry, Jimmy, Trent, wherever you are out there, f--- you, too!"
  (Al Pacino as Lt. Col. Frank Slade in Scent of Woman)

Pronunciation: chuh-loo-AS-mos

Also Known As: sarcasm