banter

7 synonyms for banter, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — Light, good-humoured teasing conversation exchanged between people who know each other well.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

kid josh

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

jolly

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

chaff raillery backchat give-and-take

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

Light, good-humoured teasing conversation exchanged between people who know each other well.

“There was a lot of friendly banter between the two teams before kickoff.”

kid josh jolly chaff raillery backchat give-and-take

2. verb

To exchange playful, teasing remarks with someone.

“The old friends bantered about whose cooking was worse.”

jolly josh chaff kid

How to use banter

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

friendly banter exchange banter banter back and forth

Etymology

First recorded in the 1670s (as a verb) and 1680s (as a noun). The exact origin is unclear — it may have started as London street slang, and some think it comes from an Irish phrase meaning "talk of women."

Full origin of banter →

Frequently asked questions

What does “banter” mean?

The word “banter” means light, good-humoured teasing conversation exchanged between people who know each other well. In plain terms, cheerful, joking back-and-forth talk — not a real argument, just friendly ribbing.

How do you pronounce “banter”?

“Banter” is pronounced BAN-tuh (/ˈbæntɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “banter” in a sentence?

Here is “banter” used in a sentence: “There was a lot of friendly banter between the two teams before kickoff.”

What part of speech is “banter”?

Depending on how it is used, “banter” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “banter” come from?

The word “banter” dates back to around 1670 and comes from Irish. First recorded in the 1670s (as a verb) and 1680s (as a noun). The exact origin is unclear — it may have started as London street slang, and some think it comes from an Irish phrase meaning "talk of women.".

Is “banter” a common word?

“Banter” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “banter” have?

“Banter” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: light, good-humoured teasing conversation exchanged between people who know each other well.

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kid Josh jolly backchat chaff raillery

Nearby words

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