dad joke

American  

[dad johk] / ˈdæd ˌdʒoʊk /

noun

Informal.

1. a corny joke or pun suggestive of those made by fathers to their children.

   You don’t have to have kids to tell awful dad jokes.

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Usage

What is a dad joke? The term dad joke is used to refer to a joke that's intentionally corny—the kind of joke that dads are known to tell their kids (or any random person they encounter). In most cases, the punch lines of dad jokes involve a pun or some form of wordplay.

Etymology

Origin of dad joke

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

Musk met Grimes while trying to make a dad joke about Roko’s Basilisk, a thought experiment about an all-powerful future artificial intelligence that punishes past critics via time travel.

From Salon • Nov. 7, 2025

Expect a stunt show finish and plenty of silliness, such as a dad joke or strength contests.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2025

His version of a dad joke meant, I think, to jauntily suggest that I wasn’t his?

From Slate • Sep. 22, 2024

The caller knows your name, and opens with a dad joke.

From Seattle Times • May 16, 2023

Autumn’s father can be cool sometimes, but he’s a walking dad joke.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer