humour
Americannoun
noun
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the quality of being funny
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Also called: sense of humour. the ability to appreciate or express that which is humorous
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situations, speech, or writings that are thought to be humorous
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a state of mind; temper; mood
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( in combination )
ill humour
good humour
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temperament or disposition
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a caprice or whim
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any of various fluids in the body, esp the aqueous humour and vitreous humour
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Also called: cardinal humour. archaic any of the four bodily fluids (blood, phlegm, choler or yellow bile, melancholy or black bile) formerly thought to determine emotional and physical disposition
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in a bad mood
verb
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to attempt to gratify; indulge
he humoured the boy's whims
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to adapt oneself to
to humour someone's fantasies
Spelling
See -or 1.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of humour
C14: from Latin humor liquid; related to Latin ūmēre to be wet, Old Norse vökr moist, Greek hugros wet
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"He had a warmth, a genuine sense of humour, he always made time for individuals and that's one of the tributes that has been said many times this morning," Knott told BBC Scotland News.
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026
Willis and Widdicombe have been paired on the live shows, where he is tasked with injecting humour into the moments before and after each dance - with mixed results, say critics.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
Few critics praised Archer's prose style, his sense of humour, or the emotional depth of his characters.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
At the same time, everyday accessories and clothing have been introduced, along with denim, humour and pop references.
From Barron's ● Oct. 4, 2026
Maybe he and Percy did share something else - a stupid sense of humour.
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
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