clown

American  

[kloun] / klaʊn /

noun

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)

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

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

Etymology

Origin of clown

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

Example Sentences

The class clown is definitely the one earning us an A right now.

From Literature

Hundreds of fans, some wearing clown masks, gathered to express their frustration with United's decline under the Glazer family and the lack of improvement since co-owner Jim Ratcliffe took charge of football operations.

From Barron's

"I was very insecure when I was younger. I was insecure about my weight and I feel that encouraged me to be a bit of a class clown at school," she says.

From BBC

“Our Boo deserves better than those two clowns,” she says.

From Literature

They looked like a dog made by a clown at a birthday party, except some of them were up to ten feet tall and solid.

From Literature

Related Words

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