noun
dad joke
DAD JOHK
Dad joke (noun) means a short, obvious joke, usually a pun, that is groan-inducing rather than genuinely funny and is told with complete confidence. Example: “I'm hungry." "Hi Hungry, I'm Dad." That is the purest dad joke there is.”
noun
1
A short, obvious joke, usually a pun, that is groan-inducing rather than genuinely funny and is told with complete confidence.
""I'm hungry." "Hi Hungry, I'm Dad." That is the purest dad joke there is."
"The whole set was ninety minutes of dad jokes and the audience loved it."
How to use dad joke
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA cheesy pun that makes people groan.
When to use it
Informal and affectionate; not an insult.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
tell a dad joke
a terrible dad joke
dad joke energy
peak dad joke
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"I'm hungry." "Hi Hungry, I'm Dad." That is the purest _____ there is.
Etymology
A compound of dad and joke, from the stereotype of a father telling unembarrassed puns to his children.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for dad joke
See all rhymes for dad joke →Frequently asked questions
What makes a joke a dad joke?
Three things: it is usually a pun or a deliberate misreading of what someone just said, it is delivered without any shame, and the intended reaction is a groan rather than a laugh. The teller does not need to be a father.
What is the difference between a dad joke and a pun?
A pun is any wordplay on two meanings or sounds. A dad joke is a pun told in a particular social way — unprompted, to a captive audience, and with visible pride in how bad it is.
Are dad jokes actually funny?
That is rather the point. The humour comes from the reaction and the teller's delight in causing it, not from the joke itself, which is why dad jokes work in families and fall flat in stand-up unless the comedian plays up the same self-satisfaction.
What is the meaning of dad joke?
"dad joke" (noun) means a short, obvious joke, usually a pun, that is groan-inducing rather than genuinely funny and is told with complete confidence.
