witty
Americanadjective
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possessing wit in speech or writing; amusingly clever in perception and expression.
a witty writer.
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characterized by wit.
a witty remark.
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British Dialect. intelligent; clever
adjective
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characterized by clever humour or wit
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archaic intelligent or sensible
Related Words
See humorous 1.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of witty
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English wittig originally, “wise”; see wit 1, -y 1
Explanation
A witty remark is clever and funny and timed just right. When you make such a remark, you are also considered to be witty. The adjective witty can be used to describe those quick little funny remarks that often demonstrate a sharp, biting humor delivered in a playful manner. Witty usually describes things that are off-the-cuff amusing, rather than remarks that are elaborate or carefully planned in advance. This adjective is usually used in a complimentary way, but, like its cousin clever, it can be used sarcastically, as when someone who doesn't appreciate your one-liners says, "Well, aren't we witty today."
Vocabulary lists containing witty
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 2
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker
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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.
Since 2022, she's cast a spell on the charts with swoonsome love songs that mix classic jazz vocals and luscious orchestrations with witty, confessional lyrics.
From BBC • May 2, 2026
An English-language debut by Russian director Kirill Sokolov, who also co-wrote its script, “They Will Kill You” is tongue-in-cheek but not witty, reveling in its excesses without bringing anything fresh to the party.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
In his witty appraisal of Michel de Montaigne’s essays, Emerson celebrates their open-mindedness and vigor with language that is itself expansive and raw.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026
BBC Culture film reviewer Nicolas Barber described the space epic as "a mind-stretching sci-fi" that manages to be "zippily entertaining" throughout, while Empire called it "witty, wise and preposterously entertaining".
From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026
She was a demanding, witty, spry woman who was the first white person I ever had an ongoing dialogue with about music and literature, which she enjoyed greatly.
From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride
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.
