humorous

¹

[hyoo-mer-uhs, yoo-]

adjective

1. characterized by humor; funny; comical.

   a humorous anecdote.

   Synonyms: laughable, ludicrous
   Antonyms: serious, sober, solemn

2. having or showing the faculty of humor; droll; facetious.

   a humorous person.

   Synonyms: comical, comic, jocular, jocose
   Antonyms: serious, sober, solemn

humorous

²

[hyoo-mer-uhs, yoo-]

adjective

1. Archaic.,  moist; wet.

2. pertaining or due to the bodily humors.

humorous

/ ˈhjuːmərəs /

adjective

1. funny; comical; amusing

2. displaying or creating humour

3. archaic,  another word for capricious

Other Word Forms

• humorously adverb
• humorousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of humorous¹

First recorded in 1570–80; humor + -ous

Origin of humorous²

1375–1425; late Middle English < Late Latin ( h ) ūmōrōsus; humor, -ous

Synonym Study

Humorous, witty, facetious, waggish imply something that arises from cleverness or a sense of fun. Humorous implies a genuine sense of fun and the comic, impersonal, or gently personal: a humorous version of an incident; a humorous view of life. Witty implies quickness to perceive the amusing, striking, or unusual and to express it cleverly and entertainingly; it sometimes becomes rather sharp and unkind, particularly in quick repartee of a personal nature: a witty and interesting companion; to be witty at someone else's expense. Facetious suggests a desire or attempt to be jocular or witty but not to be taken seriously: a facetious remark. Waggish suggests the spirit of sly mischief and roguery of the constant joker, with no harm intended: a waggish good humor.

Related Words

• amusing 
• comic 
• droll 
• entertaining 
• hilarious 
• playful 
• pleasant 
• whimsical