comedian

[ kuh-mee-dee-uh n ]

/ kəˈmi di ən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR comedian ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a professional entertainer who amuses by relating anecdotes, acting out comical situations, engaging in humorous repartee, etc.

an actor in comedy.

a writer of comedy.

any comical or amusing person.

Nearby words

come-on, come-outer, comeback, comecon, comedial, comedian, comedic, comedienne, comedist, comedo, comedo nevus

Origin of comedian

1575–85; < Middle French comediain; see comedy, -ian

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for comedian

The atmosphere on campuses has gotten repressive enough that comedian Chris Rock no longer plays colleges.
How the PC Police Threaten Free Speech|Nick Gillespie|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The comedian responded to the deadly attack on a French satirical magazine by renewing his recent criticisms of the Islamic faith.
Bill Maher: Hundreds of Millions of Muslims Support Attack on ‘Charlie Hebdo’|Lloyd Grove|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Then there was an event, an HRC event, and I took a picture with Monique, the actress and comedian.
How A Company’s Support of Gay Employees Helped One of Them To Come Out||December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Team Cosby has vehemently denied the allegations, dating back at least to a 2004 lawsuit that the comedian settled out of court.
Team Cosby’s Mission Impossible|Lloyd Grove|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The comedian was right to call out Bill Cosby, but his material is littered with jokes about rape.
Bill Cosby Foe Hannibal Buress Joked About Date Rape|Rich Goldstein|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Even this comedian of jaws and claws was eclipsed in success.
The Man Who Laughs|Victor Hugo
His gifts as a comedian gave him immediate and marked success, both with the public and with his fellow actors.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 9|Various
Voltaire called it the devil in the body; he demanded it even in a comedian in order to be a comedian of genius.
Lectures on the true, the beautiful and the good|Victor Cousin
Holberg the comedian was born in Bergen; but he is generally classed among the Danish authors.
Northern Travel|Bayard Taylor
Benjamin Jonson, or Johnson, was a comedian of the highest order.
Their Majesties' Servants (Volume 1 of 3)|John Doran

British Dictionary definitions for comedian

comedian

/ (kəˈmiːdɪən) /

noun

an entertainer who specializes in jokes, comic skits, etc

an actor in comedy

an amusing or entertaining person: sometimes used ironically

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for comedian

comedian

1580s, "comic poet," later (c.1600) "stage actor in comedies," also, generally, "actor," from Middle French comédien, from comédie (see comedy). Meaning "professional joke-teller, etc." is from 1898.

comedian

noun

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Origin of comedian

Examples from the Web for comedian

British Dictionary definitions for comedian

comedian

noun

Word Origin and History for comedian

comedian