A roast is an event in which an individual is subject to publicly bearing insults, praise, outlandish true and untrue stories, and heartwarming tributes. It is seen as a great honor to be roasted, as the individual is surrounded by friends, fans, and well-wishers, who can receive some of the same treatment as well during the course of the evening. The party and presentation itself are both referred to as a roast. The host of the event is called the roastmaster. It is also known as a burn, as one is insulted (usually a skew on what said person spoke), various peers will call "Burn!". In short, it is both the opposite and the same as a "toast".

The Friars Club has held celebrity roasts in private since the 1920s. Only recently has the public been invited to see them. Dean Martin hosted a series of roasts on television during the 1960s and 1970s as part of The Dean Martin Show. The humor at these broadcast tributes was far tamer than the sometimes extremely vulgar and explicit language of the private, non-televised ones.

Currently on television, Comedy Central occasionally broadcasts roasts of comedians, some of which were inspired by the Friars Club. To date, Comedy Central has aired roasts of Drew Carey, Jerry Stiller, Rob Reiner, Hugh Hefner, Chevy Chase, Denis Leary, Jeff Foxworthy, and Pamela Anderson. (see also: List of roast TV shows). In addition, it was recently announced that William Shatner would be the next to receive the roasting honor.

Many other organizations hold roasts now, mostly in private. But the overall tone of any true roast is supposed to be admiration and congratulations.

Anyone who is honored in such a way is said to have been "roasted".

Comedy