roman a clef (noun)

1. The novel 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen can be considered a roman a clef as it subtly disguises real people and events within the romantic storyline.

2. The famous painting 'Las Meninas' by Diego Velázquez is often seen as a roman a clef as it depicts members of the Spanish royal court in a disguised and fictional manner.

3. The stand-up comedian's routine was like a roman a clef, with real situations and individuals being cleverly masked as fictional characters to provide humor.

4. The novel 'All the Light We Cannot See' by Anthony Doerr can be seen as a roman a clef as it intertwines real historical events such as World War II with fictional characters and situations.