clown

American  

[klaun] / klaʊn /

noun

• clowns
  plural

1. a comic performer, as in a circus, theatrical production, or the like, who wears an outlandish costume and makeup and entertains by pantomiming common situations or actions in exaggerated or ridiculous fashion, by juggling or tumbling, etc.

2. a person who acts like a clown; comedian; joker; buffoon; jester.

3. a prankster; a practical joker.

   Synonyms:

   churl, lout

4. Slang. a coarse, ill-bred person; a boor.

   Synonyms:

   bumpkin

5. a peasant; rustic.

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verb (used without object)

• clowns,
  present (3rd person singular)
• clowned,
  past participle,  past
• clowning
  present participle

1. to act like a clown.

clown British  

/ klaʊn /

noun

1. a comic entertainer, usually grotesquely costumed and made up, appearing in the circus

2. any performer who elicits an amused response

3. someone who plays jokes or tricks

4. a person who acts in a comic or buffoon-like manner

5. a coarse clumsy rude person; boor

6. archaic a countryman or rustic

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verb

1. to perform as a clown

2. to play jokes or tricks

3. to act foolishly

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• clownery
  noun
• clownishness
  noun
• clownish
  adjective
• clownishly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• clowns
  plural

Participles

• clowning
  present
• clowned
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• clown
  simple
• clowns
  simple
• have clowned
  perfect
• has clowned
  perfect
• am clowning
  progressive
• are clowning
  progressive
• is clowning
  progressive
• have been clowning
  perfect progressive
• has been clowning
  perfect progressive

Past

• clowned
  simple
• had clowned
  perfect
• was clowning
  progressive
• were clowning
  progressive
• had been clowning
  perfect progressive

Future

• will clown
  simple
• will have clowned
  perfect
• will be clowning
  progressive
• will have been clowning
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of clown

1555–65; earlier cloyne, clowne, perhaps akin to Old Norse klunni boor, Danish dialect klunds, Swedish dialect klunn log

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Explanation

A clown is someone who makes people laugh, like the guy with the red nose and oversize polka dotted tie. It can also be an insult — a rude buffoon can be called a clown. To clown means to act goofy. The clowns found at circuses and birthday parties usually wear makeup and big shoes, but funny people in regular clothes are often called clowns, too, as in the class clown who tells jokes in school. Also, someone obnoxious can be called a clown, as in “that clown wrecked my car!” Acting like a clown in any way is clowning. A teacher trying to get the attention of kids who are fooling around might say, "Stop clowning around!”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

clown clowns clowned clowning

If you haven’t seen this clown, there’s no better time than the present.

From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026

At several concerts, the singer balanced his tambourine on his head, adding a touch of mad clown to his rock swagger.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

Mocha, who describes herself as a "fashion clown" and musical theatre lover, says it has taken her nearly a decade to get to this stage but feels it is the "right time".

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

A child could eat the fries and then go home and watch the clown who sold them solve a mystery.

From Salon ● Sep. 2, 2026

Deemer never said anything; he just wore a sick, pasted-on grin all the time like some kind of crazy clown.

From "Eleven" by Tom Rogers

Around 1944, Evans’s clowns transform into her signature symmetrical, archetypal masks and mandalas—totemic images and icons that feel urgent, primeval and alive.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

Working with Venn, Woolley and Woodley, Zucker devised the show to include a rotating cast of clowns, and comedic performers from around the world, including L.A.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026

"We are F1 drivers. We should not look like kids and clowns trying to ram into each other. That's not what F1 needs."

From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026

For all its clowns and pratfalls, it’s quietly one of television’s great food shows.

From Salon ● Jun. 30, 2026

She had on enough makeup for ten clowns.

From "Crash" by Jerry Spinelli

“Strangers clowned us,” former Ambassadors player Victoria Henson told me the other day.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026

His song Thick Of It, which features Trippie Redd, was nominated for song of the year - despite being something he was "clowned for".

From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2025

The Apollo 7 astronauts also won a special Emmy award for their daily television reports from orbit, during which they clowned around, held up humorous signs and educated earthlings about space flight.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 3, 2023

Watching the way people dressed, absorbing the way people joked, got clowned, handled being the centerpiece of a roast.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2022

Nate tried not to stare at Paul, but he kept thinking of the devilish teenager who’d clowned around on Papa’s ships.

From I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 by Lauren Tarshis

Now even Dolly-esque clowning can’t save country music’s current stars from having to take unambiguous positions.

From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2026

Proctor, who studied theater and political science in college, now teaches three classes on clowning at NYU and is the founder of Clown Gym, a New York City studio focused on all things physical comedy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

Her colleagues and friends say clowning perfectly aligns with Smith’s natural curiosity and playfulness.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

The wily, frizzy-haired Frenchman with red-framed spectacles taught Zucker everything he knows about clowning.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026

Guys on the side erupted, laughing and clowning and calling Rondell Mutumbo.

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña

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Related Words

• buffoon
• comedian
• comic
• fool
• jester
• mime
• prankster

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