humour

10 synonyms for humour, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — (UK) The quality of being funny, or the ability to find things funny.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

comedy mood

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

wit temperament indulge humor temper

Rare, literary or technical

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

placate witticism wittiness

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

(UK) The quality of being funny, or the ability to find things funny.

“The film's gentle humour made the long journey feel much shorter.”

comedy wit mood temperament indulge placate witticism humor temper wittiness

2. verb

(UK) To go along with someone's wishes to keep them happy, even if you disagree.

“I only said yes to humour him, because he was so keen.”

humor

How to use humour

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

sense of humour good humour humour someone

Etymology

From Latin humor ("liquid, moisture"). Medieval medicine held that four bodily fluids ("humours") controlled mood and health, which is how the word came to mean "state of mind" and later "funniness."

Full origin of humour →

Frequently asked questions

What does “humour” mean?

The word “humour” means (UK) The quality of being funny, or the ability to find things funny. In plain terms, british spelling of "humor" — either the quality of being funny, a person's mood, or (as a verb) indulging someone.

How do you pronounce “humour”?

“Humour” is pronounced HYOO-muh (/ˈhjuːmɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “humour” in a sentence?

Here is “humour” used in a sentence: “She has a great sense of humour and always makes us laugh.”

What part of speech is “humour”?

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

Where does the word “humour” come from?

The word “humour” comes from Latin. From Latin humor ("liquid, moisture"). Medieval medicine held that four bodily fluids ("humours") controlled mood and health, which is how the word came to mean "state of mind" and later "funniness.".

Is “humour” a common word?

“Humour” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “humour” have?

“Humour” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: (UK) The quality of being funny, or the ability to find things funny.

What is the difference between "humour" and "humor"?

"Humour" and "humor" refer to the same concept, the quality of being funny or the ability to find things funny, but "humour" is the standard British/UK spelling while "humor" is used in American English. The choice depends on which regional spelling convention a piece of writing follows.

What does it mean to "humour" someone?

As a verb, to "humour" someone means to go along with their wishes to keep them happy, even when you disagree with them. This usage is distinct from the noun sense of funniness and instead describes a way of managing someone's mood or requests.

Can "humour" refer to a mood rather than comedy?

Yes. In UK usage, "humour" can also mean a person's mood or temporary state of mind, as in being in "good humour" or "bad humour." This sense predates and is separate from its meaning related to comedy.

People also searched

comedy mood humor wit temper indulge temperament witticism wittiness placate

Nearby words

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