laughter
Americannoun
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laughter
plural
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the action or sound of laughing.
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an inner quality, mood, disposition, etc., suggestive of laughter; mirthfulness.
a man of laughter and goodwill.
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an expression or appearance of merriment or amusement.
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Archaic. an object of laughter; subject or matter for amusement.
noun
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the action of or noise produced by laughing
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the experience or manifestation of mirth, amusement, scorn, or joy
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of laughter
before 900; Middle English; Old English hleahtor; cognate with Old High German hlahtar, Old Norse hlātr; see laugh
Explanation
Whether you giggle or chuckle or snort with amusement, what you're producing is laughter. Laughter is also what people hear when you laugh. Funny movies, your friends' jokes, and absurd or embarrassing situations all cause laughter, which is the word for both the action and the sound of someone laughing. Laughter can be a silent, shaking movement, or a loud guffaw. There are a few other primates besides humans who experience laughter, and most babies can shake with laughter before they're even able to speak.
Vocabulary lists containing laughter
Comedy Lingo
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Spelling Practice 2, Unit 6
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Billy Ray brought so much joy, light, and laughter to the world as a devoted father, husband, son, and loyal friend.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
Empathy, on stage, becomes a cornerstone of experiencing live performance that pulls heartstrings, inspires raucous laughter or elicits a collective groan when a poorly-hatched plan falters.
From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026
Dallas McMurray’s artfully animated performing of the childlike pantomimic gestures that thread through the dance occasionally prompted audience laughter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
They described him as a much-loved son, family member and friend whose days were filled with "purpose, laughter and adventure".
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
He was chaos in a teeny-tiny package, full of laughter and good cheer, but also really, really good at being a friend if you gave him the chance.
From "Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody" by Patrick Ness
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
