Joke
n.joyful, kindeveryday
What it means
Something said or done to create friendly amusement.
Reach for it when naming humor when its audience and target can safely share the fun
The guide opened with a harmless joke that made everyone laugh.
Choose between these
7- playful
gag
a comic bit, prop, or repeated device is meant
not when Gag is performance slang and can also suggest physical discomfort.
- playful
wisecrack
irreverent spontaneous humor fits the relationship
not when A wisecrack can be disruptive or cruel despite getting a laugh.
- warm
anecdote
a short real story amuses through recognition
not when An anecdote need not be funny and should not be invented as experience.
- professional
one-liner
the humor is contained in one concise line
not when A one-liner is a form, while jokes can be stories or actions.
- formal
a brief clever remark carries the humor
not when Quip stresses wit and may be sharper than an ordinary joke.
- formal
witticism
verbal ingenuity is the reason for admiration
not when Witticism sounds evaluative and too polished for slapstick or silly humor.
- literary
light playful intent suits a traditional tone
not when Jest can sound quaint and does not cover a structured comic story.
Said against
3- serious statement
- insult
- lament
It naturally appears in
3- tell a joke
She can tell a joke without turning a colleague into its target.
- practical joke
A practical joke is harmless only when cleanup and consent are considered.
- running joke
The missing blue mug became a running joke after it was safely found.
Where this comes from
A joke is not made harmless by intent alone. Power, consent, topic, and effect determine whether it remains friendly.
- Wiktionary, English noun sense: amusing remark, story, or act opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.