Joker
n.joyful, energeticplayful
What it means
A playful person who often makes others laugh.
Reach for it when describing a social comic role affectionately when the humor is welcome
The team's resident joker kept spirits up during the delayed journey.
Choose between these
6- playful
class clown
a familiar school role captures attention-seeking humor
not when Class clown can belittle the student and suggests disruption.
- everyday
prankster
practical tricks are the person's usual form of humor
not when Prankster raises consent and disruption concerns absent from simple joking.
- professional
comedian
creating humor is a practiced performance role
not when Comedian implies craft or occupation rather than an informal group personality.
- formal
historical or theatrical comic performance is intended
not when Jester is role-specific and can sound demeaning about a real colleague.
- literary
amusing storytelling and social skill are central
not when Raconteur is elevated and does not imply jokes or playful mischief.
- literary
clever verbal humor is the defining ability
not when A wit may be dry and restrained, unlike an energetic joker.
Said against
3- killjoy
- solemn person
- heckler
It naturally appears in
3- resident joker
The resident joker checked that the new apprentice enjoyed the teasing.
- practical joker
A practical joker should never interfere with safety equipment.
- natural joker
The natural joker also knew when the room needed quiet.
Where this comes from
Joker can dismiss someone as unserious. Use it affectionately only when humor is a welcome part of their identity.
- Wiktionary, English noun sense: person fond of joking 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.