humour

[ hyoo-mer ]

/ ˈhyu mər /

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noun, verb (used with object) Chiefly British.

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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usage note for humour

See -or¹.

Words nearby humour

humoral immune response, humoral immunity, humoresque, humorist, humorous, humour, humoursome, hump, humpback, humpbacked, humpback salmon

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use humour in a sentence

One person, however, saw the humour in this adversity and started drawing comics.
An anonymous artist is chronicling the pandemic politics in Modi’s India—one comic at a time|Ananya Bhattacharya|May 26, 2021|Quartz
This was in 2012—a time when jokes around the price of petrol were so popular they almost made up their own humour genre in India.
Enchanted by Modi, India’s middle-class is getting squeezed with no political repercussions|Shoaib Daniyal|February 22, 2021|Quartz
Even in the painful separation of child and parent, there was humour.
The Rancid Ballad of Johnny Rotten: His Memoir Seethes With Anger—And Charm|Legs McNeil|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Take, for instance, Yiddish Mamma, a young Parisian brand that peddles its wares with love and humour.
Paris's Nouveau Yiddish Culture|Laurent David Samama|September 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

I let him take it from my hand, knowing it was best to humour him.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show|Robert W. Chambers|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was also a man of great humour and had a real zest for life.
Prince Charles and The Queen Pay Tribute To Mandela|Tom Sykes|December 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
She is spontaneous with a great sense of humour, humble yet at the same time driven by a healthy ambition.
Victoria Beckham Is Cover Star And Editor Of December French Vogue|Tom Sykes|November 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“We shall make Mr. Pickwick pay for peeping,” said Fogg, with considerable native humour, as he unfolded his papers.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2)|Charles Dickens
There was a deep silence throughout the whole bivouac; some were sleeping, and those who watched were in no humour for idle chat.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
Don't chaff, Shirtings; you're a very good fellow, you know, but I'm not in a laughing humour.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
She was delighted by your brilliant talk and sense of humour, but still more delighted by your cordiality and kindness.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
A certain amount of his ill-humour vented, Tressan made an effort to regain his self-control.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for humour

humour

US humor

/ (ˈhjuːmə) /

noun

the quality of being funny

Also called: sense of humour the ability to appreciate or express that which is humorous

situations, speech, or writings that are thought to be humorous

a state of mind; temper; mood
(in combination)ill humour; good humour

temperament or disposition

a caprice or whim

any of various fluids in the body, esp the aqueous humour and vitreous humour

Also called: cardinal humour archaic any of the four bodily fluids (blood, phlegm, choler or yellow bile, melancholy or black bile) formerly thought to determine emotional and physical disposition

out of humour in a bad mood

verb (tr)

to attempt to gratify; indulgehe humoured the boy's whims

to adapt oneself toto humour someone's fantasies

Derived forms of humour

humourful or US humorful, adjectivehumourless or US humorless, adjectivehumourlessness or US humorlessness, noun

Word Origin for humour

C14: from Latin humor liquid; related to Latin ūmēre to be wet, Old Norse vökr moist, Greek hugros wet

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012