practical joker
Practical joker (noun) means someone who plays tricks on other people that involve doing something rather than saying something — hiding a possession, rigging a chair, sending a fake message — in order to startle them and get a laugh. Example: “My uncle is a notorious practical joker; last year he clingfilmed the entire fridge.”
How to use practical joker
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA person who plays tricks on people for a laugh.
Neutral to mildly disapproving. Calling someone a practical joker often carries a hint of warning to whoever is listening.
A practical joke is a trick you perform; a joke is something you tell. Someone can be a brilliant practical joker without being funny in conversation at all.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
My uncle is a notorious _____; last year he clingfilmed the entire fridge.
Etymology
From practical joke, where practical means 'carried out in action' as opposed to merely spoken, plus the agent noun joker.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for practical joker
See all rhymes for practical joker →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a practical joker and a prankster?
They mean nearly the same thing, but prankster is more casual and is now the usual word for someone who films stunts for an audience. Practical joker is slightly older and suggests private tricks played on people the joker actually knows.
Why is it called a practical joke?
Because it is put into practice — acted out physically — instead of being told. The contrast is with a verbal joke, which exists only in words.
What is the meaning of practical joker?
"practical joker" (noun) means someone who plays tricks on other people that involve doing something rather than saying something — hiding a possession, rigging a chair, sending a fake message — in order to startle them and get a laugh.
What is another word for practical joker?
Other words for "practical joker" include prankster, jokester, trickster, joker, wind-up merchant.