risible

American  

[riz-uh-buhl] / ˈrɪz ə bəl /

adjective

1. causing or capable of causing laughter; laughable; ludicrous.

   Synonyms:

   comical, humorous, funny

2. having the ability, disposition, or readiness to laugh.

3. pertaining to or connected with laughing.

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risible British  

/ ˈrɪzɪbəl /

adjective

1. having a tendency to laugh

2. causing laughter; ridiculous

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Other Word Forms

• risibly
  adverb
• unrisible
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of risible

1550–60; < Late Latin rīsibilis that can laugh, equivalent to Latin rīs ( us ) laughed (past participle of rīdēre to laugh) + -ibilis -ible

Explanation

Risible describes something that is laughable or amusing, like seeing dozens of clowns emerge from a very tiny car. Risible is a fun word to say (it rhymes with visible), but it's not used all that much, maybe because it's a little formal. If you started saying the word risible all the time, that itself might be a little bit risible. Fun — and less stuffy — synonyms include amusing, comic, comical, funny, laughable, and mirthful.

Example Sentences

She opposed Pete Hegseth’s risible nomination as Defense secretary and voted to undo Trump’s heedless tariffs on Canada.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2025

It’s not as though other companies following the investor-mollifying A.I. trends aren’t making their own risible mistakes or faking their most impressive demos.

From Slate • May 30, 2024

The story is absurd, the dialogue snort-out-loud risible, the fights uninspired.

From New York Times • Feb. 14, 2024

Among his more risible claims is that 29 of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were lay ministers.

From Salon • Nov. 4, 2023

I have in my lifetime laughed till I nearly became spasmodic; but never were my risible muscles put to greater tension than upon this occasion.

From The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; containing a collection of over one thousand of the most laughable sayings and jokes of celebrated wits and humorists. by Various