jester
Americannoun
-
jesters
plural
-
a person who is given to witticisms, jokes, and pranks.
-
a professional fool or clown, especially at a medieval court.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of jester
First recorded in 1325–75, jester is from the Middle English word gester. See gest, -er 1
Explanation
A jester is a joker or clown who performs for an audience. Most jesters worked for English kings' courts during medieval and Tudor times. Back in Shakespeare's day, English royals employed many entertainers who performed plays, songs, and other acts for them. Among these professionals was the jester, whose job was keeping the nobles amused. Some jesters would travel in groups, putting on shows in various cities. Fools and jesters appear in many of Shakespeare's plays. The word was originally spelled gestour, which was defined as "a minstrel or teller of tales." The root is the Anglo-Latin gesten, "recite a tale."
Vocabulary lists containing jester
All's Faire in Middle School
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Lyrics from "American Pie" by Don McLean
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Lifeboat 12
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Working on a serious documentary didn’t stop Jackson from his activities as a harsh and relentless internet jester.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 14, 2025
Created by a solo developer known only as LocalThunk, card game Balatro - which takes its name from the Latin for jester or buffoon - is one of the year's biggest success stories.
From BBC ● Nov. 18, 2024
“I do consider myself a clown and a court jester, and I do love to make people laugh, whether they’re laughing with me or at me,” he told Men’s Health in 2012.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2024
Can imperfect sidekicks and second-fiddlers like Camelot’s court jester and Sir Palomides, the Saracen knight, save the realm when Arthur reveals himself as all too mortal?
From Seattle Times ● May 14, 2024
“Crispin,” said Bear, “a wise man—he was a jester by trade—once told me that living by answers is a form of death. It’s only questions that keep you living. What think you of that?”
From "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" by Avi
And, of course, there were the sycophants, jesters and Wormtongues.
From Salon ● Jun. 2, 2026
Ollie Rathbone and Sam Smith's goals set up the annual pitch invasion as Wrexham swept aside Charlton to "football in the circus," chants from supporters, some of whom sported jesters hats.
From BBC ● Apr. 27, 2025
We’re enchanted by the very idea of crenellated ramparts and soaring towers, troubadors, jesters and knights.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 9, 2024
The stories toward the end of the special illustrate how even world-renowned jesters must find their own line when it comes to jokes and how it affects the ones they love.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 4, 2022
There were usually at least eight wagons in our troupe and well over two dozen performers: actors and acrobats, musicians and hand magicians, jugglers and jesters.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
