jester

American  

[jes-ter] / ˈdʒɛs tər /

noun

1. a person who is given to witticisms, jokes, and pranks.

2. a professional fool or clown, especially at a medieval court.

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jester British  

/ ˈdʒɛstə /

noun

1. a professional clown employed by a king or nobleman, esp at courts during the Middle Ages

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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."

Example Sentences

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

“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

And for years, one of my sisters and I have referred to each other as Salacious Crumb, Jabba the Hutt’s shrill-voiced and crusty little jester, whenever one of us looks particularly unseemly.

From Salon • May 4, 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

Related Words

• clown
• jokester