joke

[johk]

noun

1. something said or done to provoke laughter or cause amusement, as a witticism, a short and amusing anecdote, or a prankish act.

   He tells very funny jokes. She played a joke on him.

   Synonyms: raillery, sally, quirk, quip, prank, jape, gag, wisecrack

2. something that is amusing or ridiculous, especially because of being ludicrously inadequate or a sham; a thing, situation, or person laughed at rather than taken seriously; farce.

   Their pretense of generosity is a joke. An officer with no ability to command is a joke.

3. a matter that need not be taken very seriously; trifling matter.

   The loss was no joke.

4. something that does not present the expected challenge; something very easy.

   The test was a joke for the whole class.

5. practical joke.

verb (used without object)

joked, joking 

1. to speak or act in a playful or merry way.

   He was always joking with us.

2. to say something in fun or teasing rather than in earnest; be facetious.

   He didn't really mean it, he was only joking.

verb (used with object)

joked, joking 

1. to subject to jokes; make fun of; tease.

2. to obtain by joking.

   The comedian joked coins from the audience.

joke

/ dʒəʊk /

noun

1. a humorous anecdote

2. something that is said or done for fun; prank

3. a ridiculous or humorous circumstance

4. a person or thing inspiring ridicule or amusement; butt

5. a matter to be joked about or ignored

6. seriously: said to recall a discussion to seriousness after there has been joking

7. something very serious

verb

1. (intr) to tell jokes

2. (intr) to speak or act facetiously or in fun

3. to make fun of (someone); tease; kid

Other Word Forms

• jokingly adverb
• jokeless adjective
• half-joking adjective
• half-jokingly adverb
• unjoking adjective
• unjokingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of joke¹

First recorded in 1660–70, joke is from the Latin word jocus “jest”

Word History and Origins

Origin of joke¹

C17: from Latin jocus a jest

Idioms and Phrases

see crack a joke; dirty joke; no joke; sick joke; standing joke; take a joke.

Synonym Study

Joke, jest refer to something said (or done) in sport, or to cause amusement. A joke is something said or done for the sake of exciting laughter; it may be raillery, a witty remark, or a prank or trick: to tell a joke. Jest, today a more formal word, nearly always refers to joking language and is more suggestive of scoffing or ridicule than is joke : to speak in jest.

Example Sentences

“He’s not shy anymore. He looks forward to playing with other kids and playing with the teachers, having silly jokes, sharing his stories at home and with the teacher.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I’m sure that most Dodgers players can’t name eight guys on our roster,” joked Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Nato chief Mark Rutte joked about the condition of Russia's naval fleet on Monday as Moscow denied one of its submarines had to surface because of technical problems.

Read more on BBC

Despite the loss, and his frustration, O'Neill still had time for a joke with a member of the German media.

Read more on BBC

Foy, who won an Emmy for her portrayal of a young Queen Elizabeth II in the hit Netflix series "The Crown", joked it felt like she became the birds' "bodyguard".

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• antic 
• farce 
• gag 
• humor 
• laugh 
• one-liner 
• parody 
• prank 
• pun 
• stunt 
• trick 
• wisecrack