clown

American  

[kloun] / klaʊn /

noun

1. a comic performer, as in a circus, theatrical production, or the like, who wears an outlandish costume and makeup and entertains by pantomiming common situations or actions in exaggerated or ridiculous fashion, by juggling or tumbling, etc.

2. a person who acts like a clown; comedian; joker; buffoon; jester.

3. a prankster; a practical joker.

   Synonyms:

   churl, lout

4. Slang. a coarse, ill-bred person; a boor.

   Synonyms:

   bumpkin

5. a peasant; rustic.

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verb (used without object)

1. to act like a clown.

clown British  

/ klaʊn /

noun

1. a comic entertainer, usually grotesquely costumed and made up, appearing in the circus

2. any performer who elicits an amused response

3. someone who plays jokes or tricks

4. a person who acts in a comic or buffoon-like manner

5. a coarse clumsy rude person; boor

6. archaic a countryman or rustic

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verb

1. to perform as a clown

2. to play jokes or tricks

3. to act foolishly

Other Word Forms

• clownery noun
• clownish adjective
• clownishly adverb
• clownishness noun

Etymology

Origin of clown

1555–65; earlier cloyne, clowne, perhaps akin to Old Norse klunni boor, Danish dialect klunds, Swedish dialect klunn log

Example Sentences

"There's this sort of clown show that's happening in social media and on television," he continued.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

He’d entered the league thrust into the position of savior, a 21-year-old high draft pick from USC trapped in a Meadowlands clown car.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

Hundreds of fans, some wearing clown masks, gathered to express their frustration with United's decline under the Glazer family and the lack of improvement since co-owner Jim Ratcliffe took charge of football operations.

From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026

Mojica visits Arturo Calderón, a local rodeo clown known as “La Pirinola,” who performs in drag; Calderón lets the camera roll as he paints his eyelids electric blue.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

He would rather have heard this than anything, for he knew that his unquenchable, wayward old clown was not made for sadness or uncertainty.

From "The Incredible Journey" by Sheila Burnford

Related Words

• buffoon
• comedian
• comic
• fool
• jester
• mime
• prankster