noun
jester
JEHS-tuh
Jester (noun) means Historically, an entertainer employed by a royal or noble court to amuse people with jokes, music, and clowning. Example: “The jester juggled and told riddles to entertain the king's guests.”
noun
1
Historically, an entertainer employed by a royal or noble court to amuse people with jokes, music, and clowning.
"The jester juggled and told riddles to entertain the king's guests."
2
Someone who habitually jokes around or clowns for attention.
"He played the jester at every family gathering, always ready with a punchline."
How to use jester
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA professional joker at a medieval court, or, more generally, someone who's always clowning around.
Common pairings
court jester
act the jester
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Word forms
- Plural
- jesters
- Third person singular
- jesters
- Past tense
- jestered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ juggled and told riddles to entertain the king's guests.
Etymology
This word comes from Middle English gestour, equivalent to jest and the suffix -er.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for jester
See all rhymes for jester →Frequently asked questions
What does “jester” mean?
The word “jester” means historically, an entertainer employed by a royal or noble court to amuse people with jokes, music, and clowning. In plain terms, a professional joker at a medieval court, or, more generally, someone who's always clowning around.
How do you pronounce “jester”?
“Jester” is pronounced JEHS-tuh (/ˈd͡ʒɛs.tɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “jester” in a sentence?
Here is “jester” used in a sentence: “The jester juggled and told riddles to entertain the king's guests.”
What is another word for “jester”?
Words with a similar meaning to “jester” include clown, joker, fool, jestress, fiddle and joculator.
What part of speech is “jester”?
“Jester” is a noun.
How many meanings does “jester” have?
“Jester” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: historically, an entertainer employed by a royal or noble court to amuse people with jokes, music, and clowning.
