pun

American  

[puhn] / pʌn /

noun

1. the humorous use of a word or phrase so as to emphasize or suggest its different meanings or applications, or the use of words that are alike or nearly alike in sound but different in meaning; a play on words.

2. the word or phrase used in this way.

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verb (used without object)

punned, punning

1. to make puns.

pun ¹ British  

/ pʌn /

noun

1. the use of words or phrases to exploit ambiguities and innuendoes in their meaning, usually for humorous effect; a play on words. An example is: "Ben Battle was a soldier bold, And used to war's alarms: But a cannonball took off his legs, So he laid down his arms." (Thomas Hood)

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verb

1. (intr) to make puns

pun ² British  

/ pʌn /

verb

1. (tr) to pack (earth, rubble, etc) by pounding

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pun Cultural  

1. A humorous substitution of words that are alike in sound but different in meaning (see double-entendre), as in this passage from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll:

   “And how many hours a day did you do lessons?” said Alice, in a hurry to change the subject.

   “Ten hours the first day,” said the Mock Turtle, “nine the next, and so on.”

   “What a curious plan!” exclaimed Alice.

   “That's the reason they're called lessons,” the Gryphon remarked: “because they lessen from day to day.”

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Usage

What is a pun? A pun is a humorous use of words with multiple meanings or words that sound similar but have different meanings, as in The gravekeeper buried the evidence under his desk. There are two ways to make a pun. The first involves using a word with more than one meaning to create humorous wordplay, as in The dentist put his assistants through some drills. A drill is both a tool a dentist uses and a training exercise. The second way is to use similar sounding words with different meanings to make humorous wordplay, as in The clown helped the children across the street. It was a kind jester. Here, jester, a type of clown, is used instead of the similar sounding gesture, meaning an action or a courtesy.

Other Word Forms

• punless
  adjective
• punner
  noun

Etymology

Origin of pun

First recorded in 1655–65; perhaps special use of pun, variant (now dialectal) of pound ¹, in the sense “to mistreat (words)”

Compare meaning

How does pun compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• pun vs. play on words

Explanation

A pun is a play on words. If a bird flying overhead takes a poop on the cake you’re carrying, you could say “Isn’t that just the icing on the cake!” But only if you want to be punny. Friend of the double entendre and other witticisms, a pun is a comedic phrase that plays off of the sounds and double meanings of words. Puns can be quite clever, but often come off as silly, cheeseball attempts at humor. That's probably why any good comedian will tell you that "a pun is a short quip followed by a long groan."

Example Sentences

The 22-year-old Master's student said the UK Pun Championships show, which was hosted by comedian Jason Byrne and involved comics competing in a boxing ring, was the biggest of his career so far.

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026

In a previous interview, Winchell said VAS hired a company that he declined to name to complete the audit after Pun Group was terminated in July.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 17, 2024

Pun and fun intended,” she said in a statement.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 6, 2024

It was hurt when I had bent down and had firewood fall on my back,” said Kunjan Pun on Sunday from a hospital bed where she is waiting for surgery.

From Washington Times • Nov. 5, 2023

“My school was evacuated to Berkshire. I’ll miss my friends, but I’m quite keen for a new adventure. My grandmother summoned me to Cleveland, but that ship has sailed, you see. Pun intended.”

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• double entendre
• joke
• quip