humorist

[hyoo-mer-ist, yoo-]

noun

1. a person who is skillful in the use of humor, as in writing, talking, or acting.

2. a person with an active sense of humor.

humorist

/ ˈhjuːmərɪst /

noun

1. a person who acts, speaks, or writes in a humorous way

Other Word Forms

• humoristic adjective
• humoristical adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of humorist¹

First recorded in 1580–1590; from French humoriste “capricious person,” equivalent to humour (from English ) + -iste noun suffix; humor ( def. ), -ist; compare Italian (h)umorista “capricious, subject to humors”

Example Sentences

Among the first moves in the strongman’s playbook is to take control of the media, starting with censoring news outlets and humorists.

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In the wake of Kimmel’s suspension it is hard to imagine any mass market humorist poking fun with abandon that biting satire demands.

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They are relieved to learn that the stone and an oval of smaller rocks outlining a faux grave were judged in bad taste and that the attempted humorist finally removed them.

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And in 1991, when her grandfather took her family to New York City for the debut of the musical “The Will Rogers Follies,” based on the humorist’s life, she “sat there on Broadway in disbelief.”

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A humorist and actor, his folksy delivery artfully deflated politicians and pomposities.

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Related Words

• entertainer 
• satirist