noun
one-liner
WUN-LY-nuhr
One-liner (noun) means a joke told in a single sentence, with the setup and the punchline packed into one line. Example: “His act is nothing but one-liners fired off at speed.”
noun
1
A joke told in a single sentence, with the setup and the punchline packed into one line.
"His act is nothing but one-liners fired off at speed."
""I told my doctor I broke my arm in two places; he told me to stop going to those places" is a perfect one-liner."
2
A short, memorable line of dialogue delivered at a dramatic moment, especially in a film.
"The film is remembered less for its plot than for one growled one-liner."
3
computing A piece of code or a command written on a single line.
"He replaced the whole script with a Perl one-liner."
How to use one-liner
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA joke that fits into one sentence.
When to use it
Neutral; used freely in reviews and everyday speech.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a killer one-liner
fire off one-liners
a string of one-liners
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His act is nothing but _____ fired off at speed.
Etymology
A compound of one and liner, a thing consisting of a single line.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for one-liner
See all rhymes for one-liner →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a one-liner and a wisecrack?
A one-liner is a constructed joke that could be written down and told by anyone. A wisecrack is a spontaneous cheeky remark that depends on the situation and usually pokes at someone who is present.
Who is famous for one-liners?
The form is closely associated with comedians such as Henny Youngman, Steven Wright, Mitch Hedberg and Tim Vine, whose acts consist largely of unconnected single-sentence jokes rather than longer stories.
What is the meaning of one-liner?
"one-liner" (noun) means a joke told in a single sentence, with the setup and the punchline packed into one line.
What is another word for one-liner?
Other words for "one-liner" include gag, quip, zinger, wisecrack, witticism, catchphrase.
