noun
class clown
klas KLOWN
Class clown (noun) means the pupil in a school class who constantly plays up for laughs — interrupting the teacher, pulling faces and performing for classmates instead of working. Example: “He was the class clown until a drama teacher pointed him at the stage.”
noun
1
informal The pupil in a school class who constantly plays up for laughs — interrupting the teacher, pulling faces and performing for classmates instead of working.
"He was the class clown until a drama teacher pointed him at the stage."
"Being the class clown got her plenty of laughs and a very thin report card."
2
informal By extension, anyone in a group who plays the fool for attention.
"Every project team has a class clown, and ours sends memes at 2am."
How to use class clown
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe kid in class who is always messing about to make everyone laugh.
When to use it
Informal. Affectionate from classmates, exasperated from teachers.
Memory tip
Chiefly American in origin but understood everywhere; the British equivalent is often simply 'the joker of the class'.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
the class clown
play the class clown
voted class clown
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He was the _____ until a drama teacher pointed him at the stage.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
Is being the class clown a bad thing?
It is usually harmless attention-seeking rather than misbehaviour, though it can cost the pupil and the class real learning time. Many performers and comedians describe having been the class clown, and teachers often try to redirect the impulse rather than crush it.
What is the difference between a class clown and a troublemaker?
A class clown wants laughter and stops when they get it. A troublemaker wants to disrupt or defy, and the reaction they are chasing is not amusement.
What is the meaning of class clown?
"class clown" (noun) means the pupil in a school class who constantly plays up for laughs — interrupting the teacher, pulling faces and performing for classmates instead of working.
What is another word for class clown?
Other words for "class clown" include joker, show-off, jokester, cut-up.
