laughter

[laf-ter, lahf-]

noun

1. the action or sound of laughing. laughing.

2. an inner quality, mood, disposition, etc., suggestive of laughter; mirthfulness.

   a man of laughter and goodwill.

3. an expression or appearance of merriment or amusement.

4. Archaic.,  an object of laughter; subject or matter for amusement.

laughter

/ ˈlɑːftə /

noun

1. the action of or noise produced by laughing

2. the experience or manifestation of mirth, amusement, scorn, or joy

Other Word Forms

• laughterless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of laughter¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English hleahtor; cognate with Old High German hlahtar, Old Norse hlātr; laugh

Word History and Origins

Origin of laughter¹

Old English hleahtor; related to Old Norse hlātr

Example Sentences

Some chase laughter, watching funny movies or comedy clips.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Years filled with tears and laughter, kindness, and a love that shaped our family more than words could ever capture," he added in the message, shared on his Virgin Group's website.

Read more on Barron's

"From theatre to film and television, he brought us laughter, emotion, comfort and courage," the president wrote on Facebook.

Read more on BBC

Rosenthal told the crowd at the taping that the cast often had to pause after punchlines to let laughter die down.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

We find Louis Armstrong in a louder moment, his body and his trumpet framed by the long bell of a neighbor’s clarinet, his head thrown back in rollicking laughter.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• amusement 
• chuckle 
• giggle 
• glee 
• guffaw 
• hilarity 
• laugh 
• mirth 
• roar 
• shout 
• shriek 
• snicker