risibility
Americannoun
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Often risibilities. the ability or disposition to laugh; humorous awareness of the ridiculous and absurd.
noun
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a tendency to laugh
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hilarity; laughter
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of risibility
From the Late Latin word rīsibilitās, dating back to 1610–20. See risible, -ity
Explanation
The noun risibility describes a wonderful quality in a person — the tendency to laugh often and easily. You're forgiven for thinking this word means "an ability to rise." In fact, it means "readiness to laugh." You might remark on the risibility of your giggly little cousin. The etymology of risibility is somewhat obscured by the conjugation of its Latin root, ridere, which means "to laugh," but which also gives us deride and ridiculous.
Vocabulary lists containing risibility
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.
His great talent was to take tiny grains of information in reports and proposals, repackage them as official European policy and present them as part of a broad narrative about Brussels’ risibility.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 30, 2016
What is the difference — in fact, and in risibility — between a hobo and a bum?
From Washington Post • Dec. 15, 2014
The problem comes when the line is crossed between splendor and risibility.
From Time Magazine Archive
But whenever the risibility reaches visibility, it is quashed by Director Irvin Kershner's instinct for vulgarity.
From Time Magazine Archive
Mr. Maguire did not respond to the young squire's risibility; the cast of his countenance was decidedly serious.
From Humorous Ghost Stories by Scarborough, Dorothy
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.
