farceur

American  

[fahr-sur, far-sœr] / fɑrˈsɜr, farˈsœr /

noun

plural

farceurs

1. a writer or director of or actor in farce.

2. a joker; wag.

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farceur British  

/ farsœr /

noun

1. a writer of or performer in farces

2. a joker

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Other Word Forms

• farceuse noun

Etymology

Origin of farceur

1775–85; < French, Middle French, equivalent to farc ( er ) to joke, banter (derivative of farce farce ) + -eur -eur

Explanation

A farceur is a comedian or jokester, especially one whose specialty is broad, satirical comedy. Your teacher may call you the class clown, but you can insist on being known as the farceur of the freshman class. Use this word for anyone who really makes you laugh, as well as people who write or perform hilariously clever spoofs and satires. Farceur is derived from the French farce, "comic interlude in a play," or literally "stuffing," and its root, farcire, "to stuff or cram."

Example Sentences

He began as the disillusioned farceur of “Roger & Me,” in 1989.

From New York Times • Jun. 30, 2020

This rather raises the question: what might life be like in a country helmed by a genuinely funny comedian, rather than a farceur who dreams of being taken seriously?

From The Guardian • Aug. 25, 2019

John Cleese told the Today programme that Sachs was a "sweet man" and a "brilliant farceur".

From BBC • Dec. 2, 2016

Whitehead, an expert farceur, knows that nothing is funnier than lunatic conviction.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 24, 2014

The women crossed themselves, and the men muttered "farceur."

From Diary of the Besieged Resident in Paris by Labouchere, Henry