playful

[pley-fuhl]

adjective

1. full of play or fun; sportive; frolicsome.

2. pleasantly humorous or jesting.

   a playful remark.

playful

/ ˈpleɪfʊl /

adjective

1. full of high spirits and fun

   a playful kitten

2. good-natured and humorous

   a playful remark

Other Word Forms

• playfully adverb
• playfulness noun
• half-playful adjective
• half-playfully adverb
• half-playfulness noun
• unplayful adjective
• unplayfully adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of playful¹

First recorded in 1200–50, playful is from the Middle English word pleiful. See play, -ful

Example Sentences

How can such a playful fellow have dictatorial aspirations?!

From Los Angeles Times

Detroit’s own Jack White of the White Stripes has a playful cameo and selected the needledrops from Bill Withers, Fleetwood Mac and Donna Summer that shoulder the emotions.

From Los Angeles Times

In the LP, which dropped on Valentine’s Day, he infused corridos with Chicano rap in the swaggering title track and embraced reggaeton in the playful “Loco.”

From Los Angeles Times

Beyond water ice, they offer popcorn, soft serve, and the Motown Twist — a playful combo of soft serve and water ice.

From Salon

While the turnaround of a once-abysmal special teams unit is the measurement of success, the playful off-field moments define their time together.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cheerful 
• comical 
• flirtatious 
• frisky 
• good-natured 
• impish 
• joking 
• lighthearted 
• lively 
• mischievous 
• spirited 
• sprightly 
• tongue-in-cheek 
• whimsical