jocular

[ jok-yuh-ler ]

/ ˈdʒɒk yə lər /

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See synonyms for: jocular / jocularly on Thesaurus.com

adjective

given to, characterized by, intended for, or suited to joking or jesting; waggish; facetious: jocular remarks about opera stars.

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Origin of jocular

First recorded in 1620–30; from Latin joculāris, equivalent to jocul(us) “little joke” (joc(us) joke + -ulus -ule) + -āris -ar¹

synonym study for jocular

See jovial.

OTHER WORDS FROM jocular

joc·u·lar·ly, adverbo·ver·joc·u·lar, adjectiveo·ver·joc·u·lar·ly, adverbsem·i·joc·u·lar, adjective

sem·i·joc·u·lar·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH jocular

jocose, jocular , jocund, jovial (see synonym study at jovial)

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

How to use jocular in a sentence

I’ve been twisted like an oversize pretzel by my jocular osteopath, Kyle Judkins, and taught how to pop my pubic symphysis into place, a trick I can’t wait to try someday at a dinner party.
Did Thru-Hiking the Appalachian Trail Ruin My Body?|Grayson Haver Currin|January 25, 2021|Outside Online
I addressed him jocularly, then commandingly, then beseechingly.
Pharaoh's Broker|Ellsworth Douglass
He shuts the umbrella; puts it aside; and jocularly plants himself with his hands on his hips to be inspected.
You Never Can Tell|George Bernard Shaw
He would not suffer her to be lightly spoken of in his presence, nor permit his name to be coupled jocularly with hers.
Autobiography, Letters and Literary Remains of Mrs. Piozzi (Thrale) (2nd ed.) (2 vols.)|Mrs. Hester Lynch Piozzi

You know yourself that altogether jocularly I accused you of being to blame that the notice did not arrive on time.
The Life of Ludwig van Beethoven, Volume II (of 3)|Alexander Wheelock Thayer
He became confident and talked jocularly of the tricks of his trade.
The Half-Hearted|John Buchan

British Dictionary definitions for jocular

jocular

/ (ˈdʒɒkjʊlə) /

adjective

characterized by joking and good humour

meant lightly or humorously; facetious

Derived forms of jocular

jocularity (ˌdʒɒkjʊˈlærɪtɪ), nounjocularly, adverb

Word Origin for jocular

C17: from Latin joculāris, from joculus little joke

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

jocular

Origin of jocular

synonym study for jocular

OTHER WORDS FROM jocular

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH jocular

Words related to jocular

How to use jocular in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for jocular

Derived forms of jocular

Word Origin for jocular