risible

American  

[riz-uh-buhl] / ˈrɪz ə bəl /

adjective

1. causing or capable of causing laughter; laughable; ludicrous.

   Synonyms:

   comical, humorous, funny

2. having the ability, disposition, or readiness to laugh.

3. pertaining to or connected with laughing.

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risible British  

/ ˈrɪzɪbəl /

adjective

1. having a tendency to laugh

2. causing laughter; ridiculous

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Other Word Forms

• risibly
  adverb
• unrisible
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of risible

1550–60; < Late Latin rīsibilis that can laugh, equivalent to Latin rīs ( us ) laughed (past participle of rīdēre to laugh) + -ibilis -ible

Explanation

Risible describes something that is laughable or amusing, like seeing dozens of clowns emerge from a very tiny car. Risible is a fun word to say (it rhymes with visible), but it's not used all that much, maybe because it's a little formal. If you started saying the word risible all the time, that itself might be a little bit risible. Fun — and less stuffy — synonyms include amusing, comic, comical, funny, laughable, and mirthful.

Example Sentences

Risible as these men are, their gathering did provide some genuinely touching moments of male friendship and emotional support.

From Slate • Sep. 22, 2025

Risible though the illusions of the subprime boom were, they were shared by millions of people.

From The Guardian • Jan. 25, 2016

Risible, riz′i-bl, adj. capable of exciting laughter: laughable: amusing.—ns.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various