zany

[zey-nee]

adjective

zanier, zaniest 

1. ludicrously or whimsically comical; clownish.

noun

plural

zanies 

1. one who plays the clown or fool in order to amuse others.

2. a comically wild or eccentric person.

   Synonyms: lunatic, crazy, kook

3. a secondary stock character in old comedies who mimicked his master.

4. a professional buffoon; clown.

5. a silly person; simpleton.

6. a slavish attendant or follower.

zany

/ ˈzeɪnɪ /

adjective

1. comical in an endearing way; imaginatively funny or comical, esp in behaviour

noun

1. a clown or buffoon, esp one in old comedies who imitated other performers with ludicrous effect

2. a ludicrous or foolish person

Other Word Forms

• zanily adverb
• zaniness noun
• zanyism noun
• zanyish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of zany¹

1560–70; (< Middle French ) < Italian zan ( n ) i (later zanno ) a servant character in the commedia dell’arte, perhaps originally the character's name, the Upper Italian form of Tuscan Gianni, for Giovanni John

Word History and Origins

Origin of zany¹

C16: from Italian zanni, from dialect (Venice and Lombardy) Zanni, nickname for Giovanni John; one of the traditional names for a clown

Example Sentences

The band was riding high on their new single, the chart-topping “Help!” and the group’s zany new film of the same title was set to open in New York City on August 11.

From Salon

"We want to see the outrageous, the zany, but at the same time, we don't want it to be so removed from our lives that we can't relate at all," she said.

From BBC

The Georgia couple gained popularity for their USA Network series, which showcased their luxurious lifestyle and zany family dynamic.

From Los Angeles Times

It has also had mixed reviews, being described as "jovial, zany, and sweet" by the Daily Beast, but a "mind-numbing abomination" by the Times.

From BBC

But does a film like “Another Simple Favor” need the peak of its action to be the best part when so many zany, outrageous things have left us gawking and in awe?

From Salon

Related Words

• campy 
• comical 
• eccentric 
• goofy 
• kooky 
• loony 
• madcap 
• wacky