Meanings
A reference to the three walls of a box set, with the fourth wall being the imaginary wall separating the performers from the audience. Coined by philosopher and art critic Denis Didérot in 1758[1] and thus a calque of French quatrième mur.
How to pronounce "fourth wall":
AU
The imaginary invisible wall at the front of the stage in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play.
The boundary between the fiction and the audience.
Example Sentences
1
The actor broke the fourth wall and addressed the audience directly.
2
In the play, the characters frequently break the fourth wall by speaking to the audience.
3
The sitcom often uses the technique of breaking the fourth wall for comedic effect.
4
During the performance, the actress momentarily stepped out of character and acknowledged the fourth wall.
5
The film's narrator frequently breaks the fourth wall to provide additional insights.
