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adj Uncommon

corny

KAW-nee

Corny (adj) means Overly sentimental, old-fashioned, or unoriginal, especially in humor or storytelling. Example: “His jokes were so corny that everyone groaned instead of laughing.”

adj
1
Overly sentimental, old-fashioned, or unoriginal, especially in humor or storytelling.
"His jokes were so corny that everyone groaned instead of laughing."
"The movie's ending was sweet but a bit corny."

How to use corny

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCheesy, unoriginal, or overly sentimental — usually said about jokes, lines, or films.

Common pairings
corny joke corny line so corny

Word forms

cornier comparative, more corny comparative, more corny comparative, corniest superlative, most corny superlative, most corny superlative

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His jokes were so _____ that everyone groaned instead of laughing.

Etymology

From "corn" plus "-y." The "hackneyed" sense is said to come from cheap jokes once printed in mail-order seed catalogues aimed at farmers.

Rhymes for corny

See all rhymes for corny →

Frequently asked questions

What does “corny” mean?

The word “corny” means overly sentimental, old-fashioned, or unoriginal, especially in humor or storytelling. In plain terms, cheesy, unoriginal, or overly sentimental — usually said about jokes, lines, or films.

How do you pronounce “corny”?

“Corny” is pronounced KAW-nee (/ˈkɔɹni/ in IPA).

How do you use “corny” in a sentence?

Here is “corny” used in a sentence: “His jokes were so corny that everyone groaned instead of laughing.”

What part of speech is “corny”?

“Corny” is an adjective.

Is “corny” a common word?

“Corny” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial