joker

American  

[joh-ker] / ˈdʒoʊ kər /

noun

1. a person who jokes.

2. one of two extra playing cards in a pack, usually imprinted with the figure of a jester, used in some games as the highest card or as a wild card.

3. U.S. Politics. a clause or expression inserted in a legislative bill with the unavowed object of defeating the ostensible purpose of the bill if passed.

4. a seemingly minor, unsuspected clause or wording that is put into an agreement, legal document, etc., to change its effect.

5. an unexpected or final fact, factor, or condition that changes or reverses a situation or result completely.

   He gave her a beautiful diamond engagement ring, but the joker was that it was stolen!

6. any method, trick, or expedient for getting the better of another.

   They pulled a joker on us to get better seats.

7. Informal. a man; fellow; chap.

   That joker is earning twice as much as I am.

8. a person who thinks they are very funny; prankster.

   Who's the joker who frosted the cake with shaving cream?

9. Informal. a wise guy; wiseacre; smart aleck.

   Tell that joker to stop using my parking space.

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joker British  

/ ˈdʒəʊkə /

noun

1. a person who jokes, esp in an obnoxious manner

2. slang a person

   who does that joker think he is?

3. an extra playing card in a pack, which in many card games can substitute for or rank above any other card

4. a clause or phrase inserted in a legislative bill in order to make the bill inoperative or to alter its apparent effect

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Etymology

Origin of joker

First recorded in 1720–30; joke + -er ¹

Explanation

A joker is someone who loves jokes, and tells them all the time. Jokers are usually harmless, unless you meet up with Batman's archenemy, "The Joker." He's no joke. A joke-teller or practical joke-player is one kind of joker, but you can also use this word when you're annoyed with someone who's acting ridiculous or foolish: "That joker in the convertible just ran a red light!" Card players might be more familiar with the jokers you find in a full deck, the extra cards that are either used as wild cards or removed when you play a game.

Example Sentences

Michael Jackson’s estate could’ve existed in this gray area forevermore, letting his memory hover somewhere between genius and joker.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026

The joker in the global fixed-income deck is the possibility that the Fed could reverse a dovish trajectory to raise rates again in response to war-related inflationary pressures, Al-Hussainy adds.

From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026

Ms Parker said she was always a joker in school and now believes that was a way of masking to blend in with others.

From BBC • Oct. 4, 2025

Now, anything that gets posted about “Running Point,” there’s always some sort of Baby joker comment.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2025

Todd was a joker, and he’d had a run-in or two with the law, so even in the back of a military van he seemed amused.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers