comedian
kuh-MEE-dee-uhn
Comedian (noun) means a performer who entertains audiences with jokes and humor. Example: “The comedian walked on stage and opened with a story about her terrible holiday.”
noun
1
A performer who entertains audiences with jokes and humor.
"The comedian walked on stage and opened with a story about her terrible holiday."
"A local comedian hosts the quiz night at the pub every Thursday."
"The comedian had the whole crowd laughing within minutes."
2
A person who is naturally funny, whether or not they perform professionally.
"Our teacher is a bit of a comedian and keeps the class smiling."
"You are such a comedian, you made even the grumpy driver laugh."
"My uncle is a real comedian at family dinners."
How to use comedian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who makes people laugh, either as a job (stand-up, TV) or just by nature.
Common pairings
stand-up comedian
natural comedian
famous comedian
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like comedian.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- comedians
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ walked on stage and opened with a story about her terrible holiday.
Etymology
From French comédien, ultimately from Ancient Greek komoidia ("comedy").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for comedian
See all rhymes for comedian →Frequently asked questions
What does “comedian” mean?
The word “comedian” means a performer who entertains audiences with jokes and humor. In plain terms, someone who makes people laugh, either as a job (stand-up, TV) or just by nature.
How do you pronounce “comedian”?
“Comedian” is pronounced kuh-MEE-dee-uhn (/kəˈmiː.di.ən/ in IPA).
How do you use “comedian” in a sentence?
Here is “comedian” used in a sentence: “The comedian had the whole crowd laughing within minutes.”
What is another word for “comedian”?
Words with a similar meaning to “comedian” include funnyman and funnywoman.
What part of speech is “comedian”?
“Comedian” is a noun.
Where does the word “comedian” come from?
The word “comedian” comes from Ancient Greek. From French comédien, ultimately from Ancient Greek komoidia ("comedy").
Is “comedian” a common word?
“Comedian” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “comedian” have?
“Comedian” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a performer who entertains audiences with jokes and humor.
What is the difference between a 'comedian' and a 'comic'?
The two are largely interchangeable for a performer who entertains with jokes and humour. 'Comic' can additionally serve as an adjective meaning funny, whereas 'comedian' is used only as a noun for the performer.
What is the difference between a 'comedian' and a 'comedienne'?
Traditionally, 'comedian' referred to a male performer and 'comedienne' to a female one, following an older convention of using a separate feminine form. Today 'comedian' is widely used for performers of any gender, and the gendered 'comedienne' has become less common.
Can you call someone a 'comedian' if they do not perform professionally?
Yes. Besides meaning a professional performer, 'comedian' can describe a person who is naturally funny whether or not they perform for a living. In this sense it is used loosely, sometimes admiringly and sometimes sarcastically, as in 'everyone's a comedian.'
Is 'stand-up comedian' redundant?
No. 'Stand-up comedian' specifies the format in which the performer works alone on stage delivering jokes directly to an audience. Because the base word 'comedian' covers any performer who entertains with humour, the 'stand-up' label adds useful detail.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include comedian:
