Self-deprecation is a form of humour in which a comedian makes jokes about himself or his culture. The boundaries for this kind of humour are often more relaxed. For example, whereas a Jewish joke told by a non-Jew may be considered racist and offensive, the same joke told by a Jew may be taken in good humour. The ability to laugh at oneself and the absurdities in one's own culture is often considered a good character trait. Many comedians use self-deprecating humor to avoid seeming arrogant or pompous, and to help the audience identify with them.

Some grammarians argue that this should be called self-depreciation, as the original sense of deprecate was not to belittle, but to deplore. The American Heritage Book of English Usage. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1996. 6 May 2006 .. The term self-deprecation, however, is well established in popular usage.

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