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

When asked if they would like a little more time to catch their breath in between releases, Keeho pauses to translate after which quirky singer and dancer Soul deadpans, “Yes!” dissolving them into giggles.

From Los Angeles Times

“Yes,” Kimmel deadpans, “he’s at the fourth stage of grief: construction.”

From Salon

"If you have a problem, I wish you'd just say it to my face instead of my bumper," he deadpans.

From BBC

After Cooper left the stage, Bargatze deadpanned, “That was a show ‘Adolescence’ that did that to adolescents.”

From Los Angeles Times

Stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze will helm this year’s award show, a hosting debut for the comic known for his deadpan delivery and clean humor.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• impassive 
• stony