banter

American  

[ban-ter] / ˈbæn tər /

noun

1. an exchange of light, playful, teasing remarks; good-natured raillery.

   Synonyms:

   persiflage, pleasantry, badinage

---

verb (used with object)

• banters,
  present (3rd person singular)
• bantered,
  past participle,  past
• bantering
  present participle

1. to address with banter; chaff.

   Synonyms:

   mock, deride, ridicule, twit, tease

verb (used without object)

• banters,
  present (3rd person singular)
• bantered,
  past participle,  past
• bantering
  present participle

1. to use banter.

banter British  

/ ˈbæntə /

verb

1. to speak to or tease lightly or jokingly

---

noun

1. light, teasing, or joking language or repartee

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• banterer
  noun
• outbanter
  verb (used with object)
• unbantering
  adjective
• banteringly
  adverb
• unbanteringly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• bantering
  present
• bantered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• banter
  simple
• banters
  simple
• have bantered
  perfect
• has bantered
  perfect
• am bantering
  progressive
• are bantering
  progressive
• is bantering
  progressive
• have been bantering
  perfect progressive
• has been bantering
  perfect progressive

Past

• bantered
  simple
• had bantered
  perfect
• was bantering
  progressive
• were bantering
  progressive
• had been bantering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will banter
  simple
• will have bantered
  perfect
• will be bantering
  progressive
• will have been bantering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of banter

First recorded in 1660–70; origin uncertain

Explanation

Good friends usually banter back and forth easily, like they're trying to keep a step ahead of each other in witty responses. This type of banter is their special language of friendship. Banter is both a noun and a verb about talking. It comes from unknown origins, but even as a word, it seems to be playful and teasing. You can engage in banter with friends, siblings, parents, and even good-natured strangers. Banter usually ends with everyone feeling better for the talk and verbal play. Joking, joshing, and teasing are all related to banter.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

banter banters bantered bantering

What they first cultivate with silly banter and lighthearted ad-libs eases into a more vulnerable, introspective atmosphere, comparable to a cathartic therapy session.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

Davies said some dismiss the impact of such actions as harmless or "just banter".

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

Being able to banter about blade height and the best time to aerate also gains you access to an office subculture.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

There was something calming and oceanic about the rhythm of rolls and cracks around her, blending with the ambient murmur of banter and gossip into white noise.

From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026

She didn’t pay much mind to small talk or banter, but when she asked Sierra a question, she meant it.

From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older

Bergstrom, 41, spends most nights on a live-shopping app called Whatnot, where hosts like him auction collectibles in real time to an audience that simultaneously banters and bids on his goods.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 27, 2026

Far from swooning as she is clearly expected to do, Bessette banters tartly and refuses to give him her number.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2026

But he makes frequent appearances on Israeli TV and radio, displaying a cheerful demeanor, quit wit and knack for deflecting criticism as he banters with his hosts.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 1, 2022

“He is informal with his staff and banters with all employees, again, regardless of gender, in an effort to bring collegiality and levity to their high-pressure and demanding positions,” his attorney Rita Glavin wrote.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 3, 2021

The weather shakes its bundle of mysteries in our faces, and banters us with, "Don't you wish you knew?"

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 02, No. 10, August, 1858 by Various

During the launch of a curriculum with Sesame Workshop, Chan bantered with Elmo in a promotional video.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

Welsh actors Sir Anthony Hopkins and Sir Jonathan Pryce bantered about who was the more Welsh on the set of their latest film, its director has said.

From BBC ● Jan. 2, 2024

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary bantered about the jets being too expensive.

From Seattle Times ● May 9, 2023

As Abrams bantered with Times columnist Erika D. Smith from the main stage, fans spilled out far beyond the audience tent, filling grassy areas on either side and lining the edge of a nearby fountain.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2023

Assuming that the rest of his team would be appearing shortly, Beidleman snapped some photos, bantered with Boukreev, and sat down to wait.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

She enjoys the bantering vibe of the crews she’s on, even if she still misses working with children.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 7, 2026

They would also often meet for dinner, sometimes lavish meals, gossiping and bantering over dim sum, pizza or claypot rice.

From BBC ● Dec. 20, 2025

Smith has been back walking red carpets, bantering on “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon” and eating spicy chicken until his eyes watered on “Hot Ones,” the popular YouTube show.

From New York Times ● Jun. 7, 2024

At the Q&A session afterward, Triet and Harari were in fine spirits on the eve of the film’s release, bantering on stage about whether they’d write together again.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2023

Soon he is taking Marie-Laure along on various errands again, teasing her about the mountains of sugar she spoons into her coffee or bantering with warders about the superiority of his brand of cigarettes.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

Related Words

• chitchat
• gossip
• repartee
• ribbing
• small talk