phrase

pun intended

pun in-TEN-did

Pun intended (phrase) means Said or written immediately after a remark to flag that a word in it also works as a play on words, and that the speaker noticed and meant it. Example: “He got fired from the bakery for loafing about — pun intended.”

phrase

informal Said or written immediately after a remark to flag that a word in it also works as a play on words, and that the speaker noticed and meant it.

"He got fired from the bakery for loafing about — pun intended."

"The new bridge project has some structural problems, pun intended."

How to Use Pun intended

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA note that you meant the joke hidden in what you just said.

When to use it

Informal but widely acceptable in speech and everyday writing.

Memory tip

Put it right after the sentence containing the pun, never at the start.

Easily confused with

no pun intended pun → double entendre

Common pairings

pun very much intended pun fully intended if you'll pardon the pun

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

He got fired from the bakery for loafing about — _____.

Synonyms

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if you'll pardon the pun excuse the pun no pun intended (opposite intent)

Rhymes for pun intended

ended bended blended amended defended extended intended attended expended pretended distended suspended

See all rhymes for pun intended →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between "pun intended" and "no pun intended"?

"Pun intended" claims the wordplay as deliberate — you spotted it and you meant it. "No pun intended" disowns it, telling the listener the double meaning was an accident of phrasing rather than a joke. In practice "no pun intended" is often said with a smile by people who very much intended it.

Do you need a comma before "pun intended"?

Usually yes. It is a parenthetical aside, so it takes a comma, dash or brackets: "a growing problem, pun intended". Brackets are common in writing where the sentence is already long.

Is "pun intended" too casual for professional writing?

It is informal but not slang, and it appears in journalism, marketing copy and conference talks. Avoid it in academic papers, legal documents and formal reports, where the aside reads as chatty.