deadpan

[ded-pan]

adjective

1. marked by or accomplished with a careful pretense of seriousness or calm detachment; impassive or expressionless.

   deadpan humor.

2. displaying no emotional or personal involvement.

   a deadpan style.

adverb

1. in a deadpan manner.

   He spoke his lines utterly deadpan.

verb (used with or without object)

deadpanned, deadpanning 

1. to behave or perform in a deadpan manner.

noun

1. a face showing no expression.

2. a style of comedy that relies on the comedian's maintaining such a face.

deadpan

/ ˈdɛdˌpæn /

adjective

1. with a deliberately emotionless face or manner

   deadpan humour

Other Word Forms

• dead panner noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of deadpan¹

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30; dead + pan ¹ (in the slang sense “face”)

Example Sentences

He deadpanned that he doesn’t think the exercise helps.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

As one of his worthy foils, the elegantly deadpan Olivia Tweedy proved engaging and stylish.

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“The eTurbos therefore make a significant contribution to the responsiveness, performance and efficiency of the drive system,” Porsche’s press material deadpans.

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His calm and deadpan delivery of Teddy’s crazy talk gives it a discomfiting authority.

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It’s going to take longer, cost more money and everyone’s going to sue you,’” he says, with a wry, deadpan bite.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• impassive 
• stony