adj

funny

FUH-nee

adj

Causing laughter or amusement.

"The comedian told a really funny joke about airline food."

"It was a funny movie that had the whole audience laughing."

Strange, odd, or suspicious.

"There's something funny about the way he's been acting lately."

"The milk tastes a bit funny — I think it's gone off."

noun

A joke or amusing remark.

"He's always got a funny to tell at the office."

How to Use Funny

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither "makes you laugh" or "odd/suspicious" — the two senses look identical but mean quite different things.

Common mistake

"Funny" meaning "strange" is not always negative, but it often signals mild suspicion or unease, unlike "funny" meaning "amusing."

Common pairings

funny story funny business funny feeling funny how

funnier comparative, funnier comparative, funnies plural, funnies plural, funniest superlative, funniest superlative

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Test yourself on “funny” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Can you complete this real example?

The comedian told a really _____ joke about airline food.

From "fun" plus the adjective suffix "-y," first recorded in the 1700s.

amusing chucklesome comedic comic comical droll filarious frolicsome gut-busting funnisome hilarious howlarious

humorless

comic comical quick hilarious joker stern witty droll

gunny bunny sunny runny

amusing chucklesome comedic comic comical droll filarious frolicsome gut-busting funnisome hilarious howlarious